After a turbulent 2023 marked by job cuts by huge tech companies, 2024 might see a extra optimistic outlook for IT professionals within the U.Ok. Tech staff searching for new roles could discover there’s specific demand for synthetic intelligence and cloud experience, in addition to a necessity for softer expertise round communications and managing groups.
Is there a scarcity of IT expertise within the UK?
There was a long-term IT expertise scarcity within the U.Ok. About two million folks within the U.Ok. work in tech, however there’s nonetheless demand for extra.
In keeping with U.Ok. authorities figures, the extent of “skills-shortage vacancies,” which is the place a job can’t be stuffed as a result of a scarcity of expertise, {qualifications} or expertise amongst candidates, may be very excessive within the info and communications sector; it climbed from an already excessive 25% in 2017 to 43% in 2022, the final yr for which knowledge is obtainable. And there’s loads of proof that the IT expertise shortages proceed. Even when the depth of the scarcity varies from yr to yr, there’s a transparent long-term want for extra tech workers within the U.Ok.
Analysis by Amazon Net Companies in 2023 discovered that greater than two thirds (68%) of UK companies discovered it difficult to rent the digital staff they want, and 45% stated this was as a result of a scarcity of certified candidates. A separate current survey by Gigged.AI discovered that 91% of respondents to its UK survey have been grappling with a tech expertise scarcity to some extent; roughly a 3rd (34%) stated they confronted large-to-very-large tech expertise shortages.
What are probably the most in-demand tech jobs and expertise within the UK for 2024?
Most in-demand tech jobs within the UK
Six tech jobs made LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2024 record of the highest 25 jobs within the U.Ok. which are most in demand.
- Synthetic intelligence engineer (#7 on LinkedIn’s record).
- Safety operations middle analyst (#10).
- Cyber safety supervisor (#11).
- Cyber safety architect (#15).
- Knowledge governance supervisor (#16).
- Knowledge engineer (#25).
Different jobs on the highest 25 record additionally had some involvement with tech, equivalent to sustainability supervisor at #1, chief income officer at #4 and demand technology supervisor at #8.
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In keeping with the 2024 Wage Information analysis from recruitment firm Robert Half, probably the most in-demand everlasting tech jobs within the U.Ok. are:
- Full-stack developer.
- ERP/CRM engineer.
- Head of IT.
- Cloud infrastructure engineer.
- Cyber safety analyst.
Essentially the most in-demand contract tech jobs within the U.Ok., in line with Robert Half, are:
- ERP/CRM implementation challenge supervisor.
- Infrastructure supervisor.
- Community engineer.
- First-line assist.
- Second-line assist.
Most in-demand tech expertise within the UK
Robert Half analysis stated probably the most in-demand technical expertise for 2024 within the U.Ok. are:
- Cloud computing, together with Amazon Net Companies, Azure and Google Cloud.
- Microsoft Dynamics.
- Netsuite.
- SAP.
- Python.
- SQL.
Kris Harris, regional director of U.Ok. know-how options at Robert Half, instructed TechRepublic in an e-mail that there was additionally numerous curiosity in cybersecurity, machine studying and AI, knowledge dealing with and storytelling, which incorporates manipulation and visualization. As well as, person expertise design and cloud information are nonetheless standard expertise with employers. He stated there had been a slight decline in on-premise infrastructure and community expertise, that are largely being changed by cloud information.
“The uptick in cloud-based assets can also be lowering among the want for knowledge centre operatives in addition to these with bodily machine administration capabilities. Wanting forward, it’s possible that we’ll additionally see a decline in conventional community engineering/system admin calls for as we transfer in direction of extra knowledge, cyber and cloud necessities,” Harris stated.
What’s the highest paying IT job within the UK?
Chief Info Officer tops the record of highest paying IT jobs within the U.Ok., with many salaries ranging between £105,000 and £176,000; nonetheless, Chief Expertise Officers, Chief Info Safety Officers and Chief Architect roles all have related pay ranges relying on the scale of the organisation. For comparability, a front-end developer can anticipate to earn someplace between £44,000 and £76,000, stated the Robert Half knowledge.
What’s the outlook for IT jobs within the UK in 2024 and past?
Harris stated there’ll nonetheless be a excessive demand for expert know-how assets, largely pushed by SME companies.
“Enterprise platform enhancements, optimisation of information and the continued requirement for enterprise know-how development will stay. We’re at the moment seeing sectors equivalent to SaaS, schooling, healthcare, monetary companies and retail, in addition to the federal government, all investing in tech improvement, and we don’t anticipate this to alter any time quickly,” he stated.
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Recruitment firm Nash Squared stated one rising development that will develop into more and more widespread in future years is fractional working. That is primarily the place a person works on a contract or contractor foundation however has a portfolio of part-time assignments concurrently.
“It’s a longtime mode for sure senior roles — equivalent to a fractional CISO or CIO — however is starting to unfold additional down the layers of the workforce to incorporate extra junior positions,” stated Andy Heyes, managing director UK&I and Central Europe at Harvey Nash, a part of Nash Squared.
“By participating a fractional government, companies can extra surgically apply their skilled capabilities, driving up effectivity and pushing down useful resource prices. For a lot of corporations, it’s merely getting access to a extremely skilled skilled who has the scars and bruises of getting carried out it earlier than, is aware of the place the pitfalls are, and the techniques which have confirmed outcomes, and that in and of itself can save a substantial amount of time, cash, and cut back threat,” he instructed TechRepublic in an e-mail. Whereas that is nonetheless comparatively uncommon within the UK, he stated, it’s extra widespread in Europe.
What tech expertise must you study in 2024?
Tech is a fast-moving business, which signifies that what’s scorching proper now won’t be so thrilling to employers in a number of years time. Nevertheless, it’s possible that AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity will proceed to create regular demand over the following few years. It’s additionally value maintaining a tally of the record of high programming languages: at the moment, Python, C, C++, Java and C# are the preferred languages with builders, in line with the TIOBE Index.
It’s additionally key to do not forget that softer expertise are important when taking a look at altering jobs, and constructing on these will assist to future-proof your CV. In keeping with Robert Half, probably the most in-demand mushy expertise for tech staff are communication expertise, stakeholder administration and other people administration. As well as, IT leaders stated it’s arduous to seek out candidates with strategic considering and enterprise expertise, so that is doubtlessly an space the place you may stand out.
