Tech Hiring Could Be A Challenge For Second Half Of 2017

New report shows tech leaders plan to increase hiring, but business expansion is making it harder to hire IT talent.

Twenty-one percent of U.S. CIOs plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams in the second half of 2017, but finding the right talent could be a struggle, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trends Report. The increase represents a five-percentage-point jump from the first half of the year.

hiring trends“Whether you’re a recent graduate or experienced professional, it’s a good time to be a job seeker in the tech industry,” said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. “For employers, however, hiring remains a challenge in today’s competitive market. Tech leaders must make recruiting and retention a priority to attract and secure top talent.”

Twenty-one percent of CIOs surveyed expect to add members to their teams in the second half of the year; another 64 percent foresee maintaining staff levels by only filling vacant roles. An active hiring environment has intensified competition for IT talent: 63 percent of IT executives said it’s somewhat or very challenging to find skilled technology professionals today.

When asked about the greatest contributing factor to IT hiring in their area, nearly one-third of respondents (31 percent) cited a growing number of businesses opening up in their market. The top five cities where CIOs report IT job growth sparked by new businesses are:

  1. New York
  2. Dallas
  3. Salt Lake City
  4. Houston
  5. Los Angeles

When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, nearly one-quarter of CIOs (23 percent) said they’ll be focused on upgrading existing systems for business efficiency. Other priorities include:

  • Maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information
  • Staff retention
  • Helping grow the business
  • Innovation and investing in new technologies

“Keeping up with systems upgrades so business operations can run effectively is top of mind for CIOs,” Reed added. “And with today’s current atmosphere around security, it’s understandable that tech leaders are concerned about safeguarding company data. Professionals with skills that mirror these priorities will continue to be in high demand.”