Predictions for tech hiring in 2023

Recruiting in technical fields remains strong. Technology professionals have a wide range of choices when it comes to using their skills to make an impact and help shape the digital future. According to a Robert Half Technology’s 2023 IT salary report, 56% of companies surveyed say they plan to hire for new roles in the coming year.¹ The skill sets in highest demand include cloud engineers, database developers and DevOps engineers.

But landing a job in 2023 will require more than the standard tech prowess. Recruiters are looking for candidates with analytical, problem solving and collaboration skills—all traits necessary to work in an innovative environment with global reach.

Here are some of the biggest trends for tech hiring in 2023.
 

Tech talent wars continue

Don’t be discouraged by the tech layoffs story. Despite the more than 260,000 tech jobs that have disappeared in the last 12 months², digital skills are still in high demand. The skills gap is much bigger than the layoff crisis, according to Ironhack,3 and data from Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn indicate that net demand for tech talent is actually increasing.⁴ While the biggest tech firms in Silicon Valley appear to be resizing their workforce after torrid hiring during the pandemic, digital work at the world’s largest corporations is running strong.
 

Digital transformation will influence hiring trends

The trend towards integrating digital technologies into all aspects of an organization is one major factor in the steady demand for tech skills. As companies take the plunge on embedding technology and data into all they do, they are looking for candidates who can implement and manage cloud applications, data analytics, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity—one business unit at a time or scaled across the enterprise. Professionals who can demonstrate flexibility, the ability to learn new programming languages, master new frameworks, and develop new tools will have an edge in today’s job market.
 

Candidates should focus on soft skills

Most of the time spent at work will be as part of a team, and more teams these days are collaborating in-person. For developers and software engineers who like to work in a back corner with their headphones on, being part of a team where they are at the table with process engineers, user experience designers, and data scientists can represent a major change. “To be a successful tech professional, you must communicate with more than your computer,” as Forbes.com Advisor points out.⁵ Recruiters in a corporate environment are looking for candidates with strong communication and leadership skills who are comfortable working in a collaborative, team environment. There's no arguing that technical skills are hugely valuable – but businesses are ultimately run by people, which means the value of well-developed interpersonal skills cannot be overstated.⁶

Agile methodologies are in demand

Agile methodology is an iterative approach to software development and project management designed for rapid delivery of new applications and features in a collaborative environment. Guiding principles emphasize teamwork and the ability to respond to change. Development cycles are short and incremental, driven by teamwork and shared ownership of a project. To succeed in an agile environment, successful candidates are willing to roll up their sleeves and dive in if they need to solve a problem. Those at the top of their field need to not only demonstrate the ability to respond to change but influence and inspire new business and operating models.