The skill shortage for in-demand abilities has been building for years, but the pandemic’s acceleration of digitization across all industries has widened it. Despite the fact that talent shortages are developing across a broader range of skill sets than before the pandemic, the problem remains particularly acute in the IT and emerging technology areas. This is partly because of increased demand for such services and products. When it comes to the top talents in need now, little has changed since the pandemic’s inception; if nothing else, the need has gotten more pressing.

We can detect a consistent pattern throughout time: the quality of abilities improves. It is not enough to be knowledgeable in a single field to remain competitive in a talent market. Candidates with hands-on IT expertise on their CV, on the other hand, might stand out from the crowd. Let’s take a look at which skills will be in demand in 2022.

1.   Artificial Intelligence

AI is rapidly transforming the environment of work, which is great for programmers looking for a new challenge. Between 2019 and 2020, hiring for AI practitioners increased by 32%. AI professionals received the top place on LinkedIn’s list of popular jobs in 2020 as a result of their rising use, and they are ranked #15 on its list of “jobs on the increase” in 2021.

There is some overlap with machine learning, but the major difference is that AI is a larger term referring to computers built to operate intellectually like humans. On the other hand, machine learning depends on machines’ comprehension of a given data set. Top artificial intelligence skills to know are C++, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Python.

Companies will be searching for workers with specialized areas of expertise in AI in 2022, such as natural language processing (NLP), automatic voice recognition (ASR), and automation, now that AI has become more widespread.

2.   Machine Learning

Machine learning is one of the most inventive and fascinating disciplines to emerge in the future, rendering it among the most profitable talents to acquire. There are several applications for this futuristic technology, ranging from Siri and Alexa to chatbots, predictive analysis, and self-driving automobiles. Machine learning has even been used to forecast how contagious a COVID-19 patient is going to be, which has sped up treatment development.

Those that start taking online machine learning courses now will still be ahead of the game since demand will only rise from here. According to McKinsey, 49% of firms are either investigating or intending to adopt machine learning. Machine learning is commonly used for recommender systems, providing consumer insights and information, and identifying fraud.

3.   Data Science and Data Analytics

Data science and data analytics are two of the most in-demand IT careers in Big Data. Revenue from Big Data applications and analytics is expected to increase from $5.3 billion in 2018 to $19.4 billion in 2026. Banking, manufacturing, professional services (e.g., financial advisers, accounting companies), and the federal government are the sectors spending the most heavily in Big Data, with a total expenditure of $129 billion expected in 2022.

Big data analytics is being used by 53% of businesses to speed up decision-making and improve accuracy. This is one of the reasons data science has ranked first in LinkedIn’s emerging occupations report for the past three years.

Data analysis is the more basic talent, while data science is more complex; yet the two vocations are related. Data experts are needed in a variety of industries, including education, banking, health care, software, and others.

4.   Data Engineering and Visualization

While data engineering is distinct from data science, it is the latter that allows the former to exist. Data engineers create the framework and technologies on which data scientists rely to do their work.

Since 2015, the recruitment rate for this technology career has risen by roughly 35% across a wide range of sectors.

Due to changes in immigration regulations, there has never been a better moment for US residents to enter the sector. “Following recent government policy changes in the H1-B Visa application process, demand for US citizen data engineers has skyrocketed and shows no signs of abating,” Sam Brown says.

Data visualization is a method of assisting people in understanding the meaning of data by presenting it in a visual context. For example, this can be done by converting spreadsheets or reports into clearly understandable charts and graphs. This ability is typically employed by data scientists and researchers, but it may also be useful in digital marketing professions.

Consider this job to be a buffer between technical and non-technical jobs. You’re converting the data acquired by analysts into a format that everybody can comprehend.

5.   Information and Network Security

Keeping networks safe is critical for any firm that collects client information or interacts with sensitive data.

When security breaches occur, they may be large, newsworthy, and expensive to recover from. In 2019, the number of data breaches climbed by 50%, and firms that have been notoriously hacked in history include Sony, LinkedIn, Chipotle, and others. According to research, remote labor might account for up to 20% of all cybersecurity assaults in 2020. In fact, according to one poll, 24 percent of businesses had to spend money on security events when shelter-in-place directives necessitated the urgent need for telework.

These scenarios, as well as the surge in work from home, highlight how vital it is for businesses to maintain their network security. This makes cybersecurity among the top technological skills needed in 2022.

Conclusion

There are no average competencies in this list of in-demand IT talents for 2021 and beyond. Businesses demand digitally aware people as they become more data-driven in their approaches to customer service, marketing, employee development, and other important activities. Adopting these adjustments now will help you maintain a competitive advantage tomorrow.