20 Percent of CIOs See Increase in Tech Jobs Hiring
Technology executives anticipate strong IT hiring activity in the first half of 2018, according to the latest Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trends Report. Twenty-one percent of CIOs surveyed say they plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams in the first six months of the year, the same as the second half of 2017, and up 5 points from one year ago at this time. In addition to hiring plans, the bi-annual report also highlights technology skills in demand and CIOs’ top business priorities.
View an infographic of the survey findings and a map with city-specific hiring plans.
“Technology leaders hope to get ahead on critical initiatives such as cybersecurity projects or digital upgrades in the new year by bringing on more professionals with specialized skills,” said John Reed, senior executive director for Robert Half Technology. “Database, desktop support, development and security skills are in high demand. To secure the best talent, tech leaders should act quickly when they find a great candidate and offer him or her a competitive compensation package.”
Top 12 Cities for Tech Hiring in 2018
The top U.S. cities where CIOs are expanding their technology teams in the first half of 2018:
- San Diego
- Atlanta
- New York
- Austin
- Charlotte
- Minneapolis
- Philadelphia
- Des Moines
- Miami
- Cleveland
- Phoenix
- Salt Lake City
Hiring Plans and Challenges
More than half (63 percent) of technology leaders interviewed expect to maintain staff levels by filling vacant roles. It continues to be a competitive market for technology talent, with 61 percent of hiring leaders saying that it’s somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals.
Skills in Demand
According to respondents, the skills in greatest demand within their organizations include:
- Database management (48 percent)
- Desktop support (44 percent)
- Telecommunications support (44 percent)
- Wireless network management (44 percent)
- Business intelligence/reporting services (44 percent)
Top Priorities
When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, 24 percent of CIOs said they will be focused on maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information. Other priorities will include:
- Innovation and helping grow their businesses (22 percent)
- Upgrading existing systems for business efficiency. (20 percent)
- Technology innovation and investing in new technologies (20 percent)
- Staff retention (13 percent)
“CIOs are tasked with ensuring the highest level of security and systems efficiency for their organizations while also pursuing continuous innovation,” said Reed. “The most successful companies make recruiting and retaining the best talent a constant priority.”
About Robert Half Technology
With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at roberthalf.com/technology. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2018 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.
Survey Methodology
The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. To ensure that companies from all segments were represented in the study, the sample was stratified by number of employees. The results were weighted to reflect the appropriate employee population in the United States. The report is based on telephone interviews with more than 2,600 CIOs from 26 major U.S. markets who were asked to provide a six-month hiring outlook. The margin of error is +/-1.6 percent at the 90 percent confidence level. Robert Half Technology has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.
