Top 10 IT jobs that are most in-demand in 2020
As artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and IoT devices make their way into the enterprise, several new IT jobs will grow in popularity in the coming years.
As more companies undergo digital transformation, in-demand IT roles will shift by 2020 to include positions focused on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT).Demand for tech workers continues to grow at a pace that’s unmatched in other industries. Several in-demand roles right now, such as full-stack developer, will continue to attract heavy growth in the coming few years, while some newer positions gain prominence as well. A mix of tech and business skills will be required for nearly every position, according to CompTIA chief technology evangelist James Stanger.
Here are the 10 IT jobs that are demanding in 2020.
- Computer vision engineer
Demand for computer vision engineers has grown steadily since 2013, according to Indeed data. These professionals build and improve computer vision and machine learning algorithms and analytics to detect, classify, and track objects.Investments in AR and VR are expected to grow from $11.4 billion in 2017 to $215 billion in 2021, according to IDC. Combined with the rise of self-driving cars, there’s a huge amount of growth that is going to happen in the future that directly ties to demand for computer vision engineers.
- Machine learning engineer
Machine learning engineers are advanced programmers who develop AI machines and systems that can learn and apply knowledge. These professionals perform sophisticated programming, working with complex datasets and algorithms to train these systems.AI will become a top investment area for any tech department.Machine learning engineers are going to be very high in demand.
- Network analyst
Businesses are investing more heavily in their networks as IoT enters the workplace.Network analysts in the coming years will combine their technical skill set with an understanding of how to apply it to provide real-time trending information on network traffic, and what those insights means for the business. There is requirment of somebody who understands more than just networking or more than just understanding of how sensors work — they’re going to fully have to understand the business and they are going to have understand things.
- Security analyst
Cybersecurity professionals are already in great demand, and that will continue into the future, as attacks grow more sophisticated and technologies to fight them advance.
THE ROLE WILL LIKELY EVOLVE TO INCLUDE MORE DATA SKILLS AND AI SKILLS.SECURITY WILL REMAIN VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE’RE SEEING CHANGES FROM A REACTIVE SECURITY MODEL TO A PROACTIVE ONE.WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF A THREAT-HUNTING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENHANCED MODEL.
- Cloud engineer
As the vast majority of companies move important systems to the cloud, more and more are choosing a hybrid approach, with multiple vendors. In the coming years, cloud engineers will develop solutions at scale that are a mix of both in-house technology and outside systems — going beyond Amazon engineers working on AWS or Microsoft engineers working on Azure.
- App developer
Across both end users and vendors, app developers will be in large demand in 2020.This could be a higher level role than simply coding, according to Forrester analyst Andrew Bartels. The developer may be someone who identifies a need and designs what the code would look like, and sends it off to someone else to do the actual coding.
- Business intelligence (BI) analyst
BI analysts gather data from a number of sources, include internal software, competitor information, and industry trends, to develop a sense of where the company stands in the industry and how they can both grow and cut costs.
These professionals act as a counterpart to the app developers, who start from the app and take requirements in.The business analyst starts with the business side, and considers what the company needs in terms of apps to make the process work.
- DevOps lead
As more app developers and business analysts come on board, DevOps teams will also need to be expanded to oversee and coordinate work between those groups. These professionals bring skills in development and project management that are required in many companies, even outside the context of software development.They may be found under different titles in the future, but the skillsets will continue to be in demand.DevOps plays a very important role in driving better efficiency and delivering software faster for those companies.
- Database administrator
Database administrators will become more in-demand by 2020, particularly as companies move toward more software offerings that include AI, and the ability to create AI-powered models. Having well-maintained databases is really the secret to allowing those products to work effectively.
- User support specialist
As technology becomes deeply integrated into the operations of business units, more employees will need assistance from support specialists, especially as the workforce transitions.As companies go through digital transformations, suddenly they find their operations increasingly interwoven into these systems. With all of these positions and new skills on the horizon, employers need to be proactive in providing training to workers, Bartels said.One of the things that we’ve seen is a fast pace of change in the skills that are required and consequently, the importance of having training mechanisms in place to be continually upskilling your workers for the new types of skills that may be coming in demand.Don’t assume that this problem will take care of itself. Be proactive in terms of identifying skills gaps, putting in place training to help close those gaps, making sure that you really are focused on your human resources.
