Despite uncertainty about economic conditions, businesses still plan to prioritize technology this year: While 84 percent of companies surveyed in 2023 expressed concerns about a possible recession in 2024, 66 percent still intended to increase IT budgets, according to Spiceworks’ 2024 State of IT report.
As businesses look to update infrastructure, address advanced security threats, and prioritize technology projects to keep up with the competition, there’s plenty of demand for IT and security talent. The percentage of organizations that plan on expanding their in-house IT teams increased to 41 percent this year, compared to 31 percent in 2023, according to Spiceworks.
However, companies will likely face challenges in finding and retaining IT talent. If you’re a tech professional or a business leader contemplating what the rest of 2024 has in store for the industry, here are some notable IT and security recruiting trends to watch for the remainder of the year.
1. Top IT talent remains in short supply.
It’s a candidate’s market for IT professionals due to high demand and low supply, according to the 2024 salary guide for the technology industry from Robert Half. Even organizations that have carried out layoffs continue to seek skilled IT workers. However, 90 percent of tech managers say finding top talent is challenging.
2. The global cybersecurity professional shortage is still a problem.
There’s also a persistent talent shortfall in cybersecurity: Last year, the worldwide deficit of security professionals reached nearly 4 million, according to the 2023 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study.
Managed service providers can assist companies that want to access high-level tech and security expertise without investing considerable time and funds into recruiting and retention.
3. IT workers want flexible schedules and the option to work remotely.
The majority (78 percent) of job seekers in the IT space intend to apply to remote roles, according to Spiceworks. Similarly, Robert Half has found that 52 percent of tech managers utilize flexible work arrangements to recruit and retain top performers.
However, the Robert Half salary guide also notes that 89 percent of tech professionals would report to the office full-time in exchange for a salary boost of 18 percent on average.
4. Businesses that don’t bolster their teams risk losing IT staffers to burnout.
Companies that don’t hire additional staff members or partner with third-party service providers to tackle mounting responsibilities risk high turnover rates, according to Robert Half. Forty-eight percent of tech workers report growing feelings of burnout, and 57 percent cite heavy workloads as one of the reasons for their fatigue.
Working with a managed service provider to outsource some IT support tasks can help lower your in-house team’s stress levels and prevent burnout.
5. Demand is growing for contract professionals.
In 2024, 62 percent of tech managers report plans to bring in contract workers to complete critical projects and gain access to specialized skills, according to Robert Half. IT pros are also open to contract positions, with 43 percent expressing willingness to take on temporary roles.
If you’re interested in exploring your options for co-managed and fully managed IT support and managed cybersecurity solutions, the Stratosphere Networks team would be happy to help. Get started now by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
