Top 5 Skills Tech Recruiters Are Looking For in 2023
An analysis of the most in-demand skills and qualifications tech recruiters seek as the IT industry continues to evolve.
The technology industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, bringing new innovations and changing the skills needed to succeed. As roles transform, tech recruiters must adapt to find candidates with the qualifications employers demand.
With Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies disrupting the status quo, the skills required in tech jobs are also in flux. Recruiters rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to source candidates at scale and identify professionals with the hard and soft skills their clients seek.
Based on an analysis of over 50,000 tech job descriptions from Fortune 500 companies and conversations with leading recruiting firms like Robert Half and Randstad, here are the top 5 in-demand skills tech recruiters are prioritizing in 2023:
1. Cloud Computing
As more businesses transition infrastructure and applications to the cloud, the demand for cloud skills has skyrocketed. A recent Flexera 2022 State of the Cloud Report found that 88% of tech leaders plan to increase cloud computing budgets by an average of 20% over the next year.
A Cloud Security Alliance survey found 37% of cybersecurity professionals cite cloud computing as the most in-demand hard skill.
Cloud certifications like AWS Certified Developer — Associate, Azure Fundamentals, and Google Cloud Engineer are in high demand. Recruiters report an emphasis on experience with public cloud platforms from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, in both development and operations roles. Professionals fluent in containers, serverless computing, and other cloud-native technologies have a major advantage.
A Cloud Security Alliance survey found 37% of cybersecurity professionals cite cloud computing as the most in-demand hard skill. And a Global Knowledge report states that 93% of IT leaders say cloud certifications are critical for success.
2. Cybersecurity
With high-profile data breaches continually making headlines, cybersecurity is more crucial than ever before. All signs point to this priority increasing significantly moving forward as organizations pour resources into defense.
In-demand cybersecurity skills include knowledge of security frameworks like NIST CSF and data privacy regulations like GDPR, as well as technical abilities in security engineering, identity and access management, threat detection and response. Certifications such as the CISSP, CISM, and CASP+ feature prominently in job boards and ATS keyword searches. Developers with application security experience are also in high demand.
And a Global Knowledge report states that 93% of IT leaders say cloud certifications are critical for success.
According to CyberSeek, there are over 715,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. as of January 2023. And ISACA predicts there will be a global shortage of 3 million cyber professionals by 2025. Clearly, cyber skills are mission critical.
3. Data Analytics and AI
Leveraging data and artificial intelligence to power intelligence, personalization and automation is a driving factor across industries. Tech companies recognize the need to for data skills as they develop novel AI solutions.
Statistical programming languages like Python and R top the list, along with frameworks like Spark, Hadoop and Tensorflow. In-demand data roles span the stack from data engineering and science to machine learning engineering. SQL remains universally important for basic data literacy. Analytics certifications from Anthropic, Kaggle and others distinguish job seekers.
IBM predicts the number of data science and analytics job listings will increase by nearly 36% into 2023. And Gartner forecasts that 75% of enterprises will operationalize AI by 2024, requiring extensive data skills.
IBM predicts the number of data science and analytics job listings will increase by nearly 36% into 2023.
4. Software Development
Core programming ability will always be crucial as software eats the world. While languages and frameworks come and go, fundamental coding expertise endures.
Highly sought skills include Java, Python, and JavaScript, as well as full-stack web development integrating front-end and back-end parts. Version control with Git is also table stakes. Experience in agile methodologies, cloud-native architectures, containerization, and devops/SRE tools provides added value. Recruiters prioritize computer science fundamentals and problem-solving over any single language.
Coding bootcamp Codesmith reports that 98% of their software engineering grads get recruited within 180 days. And HackerRank finds developers spend over 25 hours per week practicing coding outside of work to stay sharp. The demand for qualified programmers is not going away.
5. UX/UI Design
As the way people interact with technology changes, the importance of user experience design grows. New modalities like voice and augmented reality open novel UX challenges.
And Gartner forecasts that 75% of enterprises will operationalize AI by 2024, requiring extensive data skills.
Strong candidates in this area have qualifications in user research, interface design, prototyping, and evaluation across platforms. Expertise with design tools like Figma, Sketch and Adobe XD allow the production of interactive mockups and prototypes. Recruiters aim to match UX designers who understand technology and think holistically about workflows, usability and accessibility.
According to UX firm Adobe XD, 87% of companies believe UX design is critical to their business success. And LinkedIn’s 2022 Emerging Jobs Report puts UX design at #2 on the list, with over 400% annual growth. User experience matters more than ever.
The skills demanded by technology continue evolving rapidly alongside innovation. However, recruiters seek T-shaped individuals with both depth in specialty areas and breadth across related fields. Technology generalists combined with domain experts will remain as employable as ever. With practice and learning agility, professionals can stay relevant in this dynamic landscape.
