Top 10 IT Skills and Tech Skills for 2021
Every year the tech world changes and grows, leading to a demand in new IT skills and jobs. The entire world changed drastically in 2020 due to the global pandemic which has led to a huge shift in the working world, from Zoom meetings to remote work. And with the job market being as competitive as ever, it is incredibly important to know what the top IT and tech skills are in order to secure the right role.
Knowing what the employers are looking for will enable candidates to gain those skills and stand out from the very saturated pool of candidates. So, here are the top IT skills and tech skills for 2021 that employers and candidates need to be aware of.
IT Support
IT support has always been in demand and the need for it has increased even more recently due to the shift to remote working. The majority of businesses now have employees working from home, so it’s likely they will need extra support whilst doing so. Therefore, the need for those with IT Support skills is still going to be strong in 2021. There are numerous roles within IT support such as 1st line support, 2nd line support and many more.
Remote IT Jobs
Although remote working is not a skill in itself there is a set of skills required in order to work effectively on a remote basis. For example, you need to have excellent communications skills especially if you work in a team environment. Another key skill needed for remote work is being able to self-motivate as you won’t have your colleague/managers there to motivate you as you would in an office environment. The rise of remote working and remote jobs was slowly increasing over the years already, however, the lockdown due to the pandemic has catapulted this movement in the working world, and we can expect to see even more remote job vacancies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence which is also referred to as machine learning is in demand due to a lack of skilled professionals in the field. When there are not enough skilled professionals in a field, the demand for them is high which also means that the pay-packet is usually very good. AI has been around for a couple of years and it’s a skill that can be future-proofed, meaning that it is unlikely it will become outdated as some other skills in the future. So if you’re looking to enter a complex field which has an abundance of opportunities, give AI a go.
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Cybersecurity
As with remote and IT support jobs, the pandemic has only pushed the need for individuals in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is incredibly important to every business especially those dealing with customer data. With the risk of being fined millions if they have failed to set strong cybersecurity measures, businesses must ensure that they have professionals who are able to provide that security. According to research by Cybersecurity Professionals, there are predicted to be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the UK by 2021. If are looking to take on a tech role, then Cybersecurity could be for you.
Project Management
According to a report by the Project Management Institute, there will be a demand for 88 million professionals for project management roles by the end of 2021. Project management can be an incredibly rewarding role to take on and the skills acquired are extremely valuable in uncertain times. For example, some of the key skills for project managers are leading and managing teams whilst staying focused on achieving the objectives set. These are skills which can be applied to a number of other roles should you ever wish to move away from project management in the future. The role of an IT project manager usually pays well with an average salary in the UK of £55,000.
Software Development
The demand for software development is on the rise with the increasing use of mobiles, apps and technology in general. According to research by Stack Overflow, 75% of developers learn a new technology every year, meaning they are always developing their skills and growing their knowledge. This makes developers adaptable to change and allows them to keep their skills updated. This ensures job security, especially in an uncertain environment. If you are looking to get into software development then the most in-demand programming languages to learn are SQL and Java.
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Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is still fairly new and the demand for professionals skilled in cloud computing is set to rise. With the new cloud technology such as Amazon Web Services coming into play, it pays to have the right skills for the job opportunities this creates. Businesses are also moving towards cloud solutions for its many benefits such as security and cost-effectiveness, therefore the demand for this skill is something that will likely rise in 2021. Cloud engineer vacancies saw growth of over 100% from 2016-2019 on Technojobs, which could be a good indicator of what we can expect in the future.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
This again is a new area in tech that will likely explode in the upcoming years, as can already be seen by VT tech/hardware having record sales in 2020 according to Circuity Stream. AR/VR is already adopted in a number of industries such as entertainment (video games), advertising as well as education and health.
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Data Science
Now more than ever because of technological developments in data collection, companies have an incredible amount of data which is a major benefit. However, it can also be overwhelming to make any sense of it. This is where data scientists come in, they look at the data and interpret it in order to make business decisions. A Future of Jobs report listed the role of Data Scientists as the most in-demand role by 2022.
Business Intelligence (BI) Analysis
BI Analysts are an integral part of companies looking to stay on top of competitors and be continuously developing and growing. They provide direction and focus by analysing data. A BI analyst will need to have skills such as Data Analysis, problem solving and communication.
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If you are looking for IT Jobs or looking to enter the tech world, then these are some of the most in-demand IT/Tech skills for 2021 that you should consider looking into. A key point to remember when working in the IT sector is that you will need to keep up with the changing times.
