After a turbulent 2023 marked by job cuts by big tech companies, 2024 could see a more positive outlook for IT professionals in the UK. Tech workers looking for new roles may find that there is a particular demand for, and need for, AI and cloud expertise. for more soft skills around communications and team management.
Is there a shortage of IT skills in the UK?
There has been a long-term IT skills shortage in the UK. Around two million people in the UK work in technology, but there is still demand for more.
According to UK government figures, the level of “skills shortage vacancies” – where a position cannot be filled due to a lack of skills, qualifications or experience among applicants – is very high in the employment sector. information and communications; It went from an already high 25% in 2017 to 43% in 2022, the last year for which data is available. And there is plenty of evidence that the IT skills shortage continues. Even if the intensity of the shortage varies from year to year, there is a clear long-term need for more tech staff in the UK.
Research by Amazon Web Services in 2023 found that more than two-thirds (68%) of UK businesses struggled to hire the digital workers they need, with 45% saying this was due to a shortage of applicants. qualified. A recent independent survey by Gigged.AI found that 91% of respondents to its UK survey were dealing with a tech skills shortage to some extent; About a third (34%) said they faced a large to very large technology skills shortage.
What are the most in-demand tech jobs and skills in the UK by 2024?
The most in-demand tech jobs in the UK
Six tech jobs featured on LinkedIn's Jobs on the Rise 2024 list of the top 25 most in-demand UK jobs.
- Artificial intelligence engineer (#7 on LinkedIn list).
- Security operations center analyst (#10).
- Cyber security manager (#11).
- Cyber Security Architect (#15).
- Data governance manager (#16).
- Data engineer (#25).
Other jobs on the top 25 list also had some involvement with technology, such as sustainability manager at No. 1, chief revenue officer at No. 4, and demand generation manager at No. 8.
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According to 2024 Salary Guide research from recruitment firm Robert Half, the most in-demand permanent tech jobs in the UK are:
- Full-stack developer.
- ERP/CRM Engineer.
- IT Head.
- Cloud infrastructure engineer.
- Cybersecurity analyst.
The most in-demand contract tech jobs in the UK, according to Robert Half, are:
- Responsible for ERP/CRM implementation projects.
- Infrastructure administrator.
- Network engineer.
- First line support.
- Second line support.
The most in-demand tech skills in the UK
Robert Half's research said the most in-demand technical skills by 2024 in the UK are:
- Cloud computing, including Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Google Cloud.
- Microsoft Dynamics.
- NetSuite.
- SAP.
- Piton.
- SQL.
Kris Harris, UK regional director of technology solutions at Robert Half, told TechRepublic in an email that there was also a lot of interest in cybersecurity, machine learning and artificial intelligence, data management and storytelling, which includes manipulation and visualization. Additionally, user experience design and cloud knowledge remain popular skills among employers. He said there had been a slight decline in on-premises infrastructure and networking skills, which are largely being replaced by cloud knowledge.
“The rise of cloud-based resources is also reducing some of the need for data center operators, as well as those with physical machine management capabilities. Looking ahead, we will also likely see a decline in traditional network engineering/systems administration demands as we move toward more data, cyber and cloud requirements,” Harris said.
What is the highest paying IT job in the UK?
Chief Information Officer tops the list of the highest paying IT jobs in the UK, with many salaries ranging between £105,000 and £176,000; However, the positions of chief technology officers, chief information security officers, and chief architects have similar salary ranges depending on the size of the organization. For comparison, a front-end developer can expect to earn between £44,000 and £76,000, according to data from Robert Half.
What are the prospects for IT jobs in the UK in 2024 and beyond?
Harris said there will still be high demand for skilled technology resources, largely driven by SMEs.
“Enterprise platform improvements, data optimization and the continued need for enterprise technology progression will remain. We are currently seeing sectors such as SaaS, education, healthcare, financial services and retail, as well as government, all investing in technological development, and we do not expect this to change anytime soon,” he said.
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Recruitment company Nash Squared said an emerging trend that may become increasingly common in the coming years is split work. Basically, this occurs when a person works as a freelancer or contractor, but has a portfolio of part-time tasks simultaneously.
“It is an established mode for certain senior roles, such as CISO or fractional CIOs, but it is starting to spread further down the layers of the workforce to include more junior positions,” said Andy Heyes, managing director for the UK and I and Central Europe by Harvey Nash. , part of Nash Squared.
“By hiring a fractional executive, companies can more surgically apply their professional capabilities, increasing efficiency and reducing resource costs. For many businesses, it's simply having access to a highly experienced professional who has the scars and bruises of having done it before, knows where the pitfalls are, and knows the tactics that have proven results, and that alone can save you a lot. of time, money and reduce risk,” he told TechRepublic in an email. Although this is still relatively rare in the UK, he said, it is more common in Europe.
What tech skills should you learn in 2024?
Technology is a rapidly evolving industry, which means what's hot right now might not be as interesting to employers in a few years. However, AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity are likely to continue creating steady demand in the years to come. It's also worth keeping an eye on the list of top programming languages: Python, C, C++, Java and C# are currently the most popular languages among developers, according to the TIOBE index.
It's also key to remember that softer skills are vital when looking to change jobs, and harnessing them will help future-proof your CV. According to Robert Half, the soft skills most in demand by workers in the technology sector are communication skills, stakeholder management, and people management. Additionally, IT leaders said it's difficult to find candidates with strategic thinking and business skills, so this is potentially an area in which to excel.
