Network and infrastructure roles are evolving with the adoption of AI-driven network operations, multicloud networking, zero trust network access (ZTNA), and SD-WAN. This article provides a summary of recent research, employment data, and trends in certifications affecting today’s network professionals, infrastructure leaders, and data center teams. Updates will be provided regularly.
The importance of training employees on AI is becoming more evident as studies show that many employees are unsure how to integrate this technology into their roles.
The 2024 Digital Work Trends Report by Slingshot indicates that 77% of employees feel they lack complete training on AI tools provided by their employers. Similarly, only 27% of managers believe their employees are fully trained on these tools. The study, conducted by Dynata in the second quarter of 2024 with 253 participants, also highlights that the lack of AI experts and quality data are major obstacles to the successful implementation of AI technologies. Almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents revealed that their lack of AI experts hinders the provision of AI tools, and 45% attributed the poor quality of data as a primary reason for not deploying AI tools in the workplace. Additionally, a significant number believe that inadequate technological infrastructure is a barrier to implementing AI solutions.
“Data is also a primary concern for employees when discussing AI readiness: 33% of employers believe their organization could adopt AI effectively if their data were properly verified, while 32% feel more training concerning data and AI is necessary before their organization can proceed,” the report states.
September 2024
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently published its latest employment figures, indicating that the ratio of job openings per unemployed individual is falling consistently, which suggests an upward trend in unemployment rates.
The latest BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) indicates that there were 7.7 million job openings at the end of July, with hiring numbers at 5.5 million and separations totaling 5.4 million. Within these separations (3.3 million), the divisions include voluntary quits, layoffs, and terminations (1.8 million for the month). These figures are considered an ominous sign for the country’s employment landscape going forward.
“The labor market has not only cooled from its pre-pandemic state, but it has also dropped further,” notes an Indeed Hiring Lab report regarding the BLS data. “We are beyond moderation and moving towards a deteriorating labor market.”
In the realm of IT, BLS data indicates a potential increase of around 5,000 jobs in 2024, yet this uptick fails to compensate for the growing number of unemployed IT professionals, which Janco Associates assesses to be about 145,000.
“The most recent BLS data points to roughly 4.18 million IT jobs in the US. Despite this, layoffs at major tech companies dampen overall IT employment prospects. Some of the significant corporations announcing fresh layoffs include Intel, Microsoft, and Google,” declared M. Victor Janulaitis, the CEO of Janco. “The BLS data reflects that although 81,000 IT professionals found employment, around 147,000 were still job searching in June. Our forecasts see this trend continuing through July and August.”
September 2024
Technology experts eager to demonstrate their proficiency in data science can now do so through the CompTIA DataX certification program.
This program is a part of the recently introduced Xpert Series by CompTIA. It was developed with insights from data scientists from both the public and private sectors, focusing on essential skills critical for a data scientist’s success. These skills include mathematics and statistics; modeling, analysis, and outcomes; operations and processes; machine learning; and specialized data science applications. Designed for data scientists with over five years of experience, the DataX program not only highlights areas that need improvement but also offers educational content on expert-level topics.
“Acquiring a CompTIA DataX certification is a solid proof of a professional’s dedication to excellence in data science,” stated Teresa Sears, senior vice president of product management at CompTIA, in a press release. “This certification confirms the sophisticated analytics skills that help enterprises increase efficiency, decrease risks, and leverage the maximum potential of data assets.”
August 2024
CompTIA is collaborating with Gebeya Inc. to grant access to its extensive selection of courses in IT, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. This partnership will enable Africans interested in technology to engage in IT training and certification programs offered by CompTIA.
Gebeya, which is known as a Pan-African talent cloud technology provider, aims to diminish the digital skills gap and advance digital transformation throughout Africa. Through their partnership with CompTIA, they plan to enhance the capabilities of upcoming technology professionals across the continent. “This strategic collaboration with CompTIA allows us to incorporate an all-encompassing skills training module within the Gebeya Talent Cloud, thereby providing unparalleled opportunities for IT training and certifications to our customers and partners,” commented Amadou Daffe, Gebeya’s CEO, as noted in a statement.
CompTIA is renowned for its vendor-neutral IT certifications that span various core IT functions, claiming that its course library aids in keeping individuals up-to-date with essential, in-demand technology skills and elevating technical expertise globally.
“Closing the digital skill gap in Africa is a mutual goal,” stated Benjamin Ndambuki, CompTIA’s territory development representative for Africa. “With Gebeya’s broad network and local insight, combined with the global recognition of CompTIA’s certifications, we’re confident that we can empower the next wave of African tech professionals to succeed in the digital world.”
August 2024
New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates a miscalculation in earlier job growth estimates. According to a recent report, 818,000 fewer jobs were added in the year ending March 2024 than initially thought. This revision, combined with data from Indeed showing a gradual increase in the unemployment rate, is heightening fears of a recession.
Indeed’s Hiring Lab states that “on a three-month average basis, the unemployment rate has risen .55 percentage points since its low of 3.5% in January 2023.” These revised figures from the BLS suggest a weaker hiring environment and a less robust labor market than earlier anticipated. However, Indeed maintains a stance of “cautious optimism” regarding the labor market, citing persistent job availability and wage growth as reasons for potential workforce expansion.
“Besides the relative abundance of job opportunities, another motivating factor for increased workforce participation is the sustained strong wage growth, which, although it has decelerated from recent peaks, matches pre-pandemic levels,” according to Indeed.
August 2024
The semiconductor industry could be facing a major labor shortage as industry growth has outpaced the availability of skilled workers in the US. A recent report by McKinsey & Company found that public and private investment in the semiconductor industry in the US will expand to more than $250 billion by 2032 and will bring more than 160,000 new job openings in engineering and technical support to the industry. This coupled with the steep decline of the US domestic semiconductor manufacturing workforce – which has dropped 43% from its peak employment levels in 2000 – means the industry will struggle to fill those jobs. At the current rate, the shortage of engineers and technicians could reach as high as 146,000 workers by 2029, according to the report.
August 2024
New career resources from CompTIA are designed to teach people about specific tech-related roles and empower them to tailor a career path that best aligns with their skills and experiences.
“Too many people are unaware of what it truly means to work in tech. They see it as intimidating, dull, or excessively difficult,” explained Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA, in a statement. “Our goal is to enlighten them about the exciting career possibilities in the tech industry; we aim to motivate and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to prosper.”
One of the latest initiatives is the CompTIA Career Explorer, which the nonprofit claims will assist individuals in crafting a career path suited to their personal workstyle and lifestyle preferences. This tool allows users to experience “a day in the life” simulations of specific job roles and engage in realistic problem-solving exercises pertinent to those roles.
The CompTIA Career+ initiative offers an engaging and interactive video experience that “showcases a day in the life of sought-after job roles,” as described by CompTIA. This interactive feature includes about 30 different job roles, covering roughly 90% of all positions within the tech sector.
These resources were unveiled during their CompTIA ChannelCon and Partner Summit conference. “We aspire for CompTIA to be synonymous with acquiring the competencies and skills essential for a technology career,” stated Thibodeaux.
August 2024
A recent investigation by the biotechnology firm based in Germany, Cytena, determined that California tops the list in the U.S. for the highest average earnings in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
The analysis by Cytena, which scrutinized salary information from over 75 STEM roles advertised on the job review site Glassdoor, identified California as the premier state for tech-oriented salaries in the USA with an average earning figure of $124,937. This assessment spanned numerous positions including those in healthcare, mathematics, and tech sectors such as network and software engineering. Washington state trailed slightly behind with an average salary just under $124,000, while New York secured the third position with its average yearly earnings of $114,437. Nevada, Maryland, Massachusetts, Idaho, Hawaii, Colorado, and Connecticut also made the list, completing the top ten states where STEM professionals are most lucratively compensated.
July 2024
Friday, July 26 is the celebration of the 25th annual System Administrator Appreciation Day, observed each year on the last Friday of July. SysAdmin Day is dedicated to IT professionals who ensure that organizations and their supporting infrastructures operate effectively. Often considered a thankless role, Ted Kekatos established the day to pay tribute to the individuals responsible for setting up hardware and software, managing networks and technology tools, assisting end users, and overseeing system performance.
Network and system administrators handle numerous complaints and resolve issues for users, frequently without recognition for their efforts. As the overlooked champions of the IT world, sysadmins are right to be celebrated on this special day, perhaps with a token of appreciation to honor their dedication and the invisible labor they perform.
July 2024
NetBrain Technologies introduced its Network Automation Certification Program, aimed at certifying engineers skilled in network automation. This program helps network engineers prove their capabilities and showcase these skills broadly, as stated by NetBrain. The initial testing for this certification is scheduled for October 3, following the NetBrain Live Conference in Boston.
NetBrain currently lists three network automation certifications on its website:
July 2024
Skillsoft announced a collaboration with Microsoft to create the AI Skill Accelerator program aimed at enabling organizations to upskill their workforce. This program will focus on utilizing Microsoft AI technologies such as Copilot and Azure Open AI, along with broader generative AI technologies, to enhance business productivity and innovation.
“This collaboration with Microsoft marks the beginning of many AI learning initiatives we will introduce to support our customers and their teams—from daily users to business executives to AI developers—in gaining the necessary skills and tools to thrive in the AI era,” stated Ron Hovsepian, executive chair at Skillsoft, in a press release. A Skillsoft annual IT Skills and Salary report, which surveyed 5,700 tech professionals globally, revealed that 43% of participants believe their team’s AI skills need enhancement.
Skillsoft’s AI Skill Accelerator offers a blended learning opportunity featuring on-demand courses, personal and group coaching, live training led by instructors, and interactive practice labs. Skillsoft states that this program will equip its users comprehensively.
“Microsoft and Skillsoft have maintained a robust partnership, sharing a mutual commitment to facilitating AI integration in every business sector,” commented Jeana Jorgensen, corporate vice president of worldwide learning at Microsoft, in a statement. “This program is crafted to enable both individuals and corporations to leverage generative AI, including Microsoft Copilot and other AI applications and services from Microsoft.”
July 2024
Statistics from IT job monitoring agencies indicate that the tech sector saw an addition of over 7,500 new employees in June, despite an uptick in the unemployment rate specific to IT professionals.
CompTIA reported a significant addition of 7,540 new tech workers in June, marking this year’s largest monthly growth according to a review of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, this increase was counterbalanced by a reduction of 22,000 tech positions across various sectors within the U.S. economy. “Though there are areas of growth, the current figures suggest a downward trend in tech employment,” stated Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA, in a press release. “Factors including AI FOMO are causing some employers to adopt a cautious stance towards tech recruitment.”
In a related report, Janco Associates noted an increase in the unemployment rate among IT professionals to 5.9% in June, surpassing the national average of 4.1%. According to Janco, approximately 7,700 IT positions were added in May 2024. The report highlighted an increase in unemployed IT professionals from 129,000 to 147,000. “There is a persistent skills gap as many IT positions remain unfilled due to the lack of adequately trained and experienced IT professionals. Despite around 78,000 IT pros being employed, there are still 147,000 seeking employment,” Janco Associates indicated.
July 2024
CompTIA has recently updated its Network+ certification, broadening its scope to more comprehensively cover contemporary network environments, aspects of physical network installations, and enhanced methods for securing and fortifying networks.
Software-defined networking (SDN) and SD-WAN are significant aspects of the revised Network+ exam, or N10-009. CompTIA explains, “the program now includes infrastructure as code (IaC), a cutting-edge method that uses code to enhance the provisioning and management of computing infrastructure.”
The Network+ certification has also been enhanced to incorporate zero-trust architecture and additional network security measures. For further details, read the complete article: CompTIA updates Network+ certification
June 2024
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced two new certifications focused on artificial intelligence for IT professionals aiming to advance their careers and acquire AI-centric positions. These certifications are designed to equip specialists with vital AI skills, potentially leading to employment opportunities that offer salaries up to 47% higher in the IT sector, as indicated by an AWS report.
AWS Certified AI Practitioner is an introductory certification that demonstrates understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and generative AI principles and applications, as per AWS. It is designed for candidates who already have experience with AI/ML technologies on AWS. The certification process involves a 120-minute, 85-question assessment that helps enhance one’s grasp on key concepts and applications in AI, ML, and generative AI. The subjects tested include prompt engineering, responsible AI, and securing AI systems, among others.
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer—Associate is a credentialing exam that lasts 170 minutes and includes 85 questions, aimed at demonstrating the technical ability to deploy ML solutions effectively in production environments. Suitable candidates typically have a minimum of one year of hands-on experience with Amazon SageMaker and other ML-focused AWS services. The exam covers various areas such as preparing data for ML models, feature engineering, training models, and ensuring security.
The registration for these new AWS certifications will start on August 13.
June 2024
Cisco’s latest AI certification is designed to equip IT professionals with the skills necessary to design, provision, and optimize networks for intensive AI/ML workloads. Announced during the Cisco Live event in Las Vegas, the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)-AI Infrastructure certification is expert-level and vendor-neutral. This certification enables tech professionals to devise network architectures tailored for AI applications, considering unique business requirements such as cost and power trade-offs, and aligning computing resources and cloud solutions with environmental impact considerations, according to a blog post by Par Merat, vice president of Cisco Learning and Certifications.
Cisco reports that the CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification covers topics such as GPU optimization design and the creation of high-performance generative AI network fabrics. Candidates will also explore the sustainability and compliance aspects of AI-supportive networks. As per the Cisco AI Readiness Index, nearly 90% of organizations are investing in bridging the AI skills divide. More details can be found here.
June 2024
The demand for cybersecurity expertise continues to exceed the available supply of skilled professionals in 2024, with recent insights provided by CyberSeek, a project jointly developed by Lightcast, NICE, and CompTIA.
According to CyberSeek data, currently only 85% of cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. economy can be filled by available workers, leaving a gap of over 225,000 needed to meet the demand. Additionally, job postings in all tech fields have seen a 37% decline from May 2023 to April 2024.
Will Markow, vice president of applied research at Lightcast, noted, “Though cybersecurity job demands are stabilizing to levels seen before the pandemic, the significant gap in skilled cyber professionals remains. As cybersecurity threats and technology evolve rapidly, it’s critical for employers, educational institutions, and workers to stay ahead by continually adapting to the changes in the cybersecurity landscape.”
The jobs most in demand are roles such as network engineers, systems administrators, cybersecurity engineers, cybersecurity analysts, security engineers, systems engineers, information systems security officers, network administrators, information security analysts, and software engineers, as highlighted by CyberSeek data.
Hannah Johnson, senior vice president of tech talent programs at CompTIA, stated, “Establishing a strong cybersecurity framework often involves altering talent acquisition strategies. This could mean upskilling newer cybersecurity professionals to more advanced positions or hiring individuals who show deep expertise through professional certifications or similar qualifications.” CompTIA, in a statement.
June 2024
Recent employment data indicates that the median salary for IT professionals has reached $100,399, with overall compensation, including bonuses and benefits, at $103,692. A report by Janco Associates, Inc. highlighted a 3.28% increase in IT salaries over the past year, despite a 5% unemployment rate among IT workers. IT executives are experiencing the most significant gains, with compensation packages rising by 7.48%, bringing the median to $184,354.
The phenomenon of “Salary compression” was also observed by Janco Associates. This is when new employees are offered salaries at the upper end of the spectrum for existing roles, often earning more than long-standing employees in the same positions.
In terms of company size, midsized enterprises are facing higher attrition rates than larger organizations, with salary increases in midsized companies outpacing those in larger corporations. Specifically, salaries in midsized enterprises rose by 5.46%, compared to a 2.56% increase in larger enterprises as reported by Janco Associates.
May 2024
New insights from a study by IDC highlight an increasing shortage of essential IT skills which could be adversely affecting the financial outcomes of companies.
The latest report from IDC, Enterprise Resilience: IT Skilling Strategies, 2024, outlines critical skills currently in high demand across enterprises. From a group of 811 participants, artificial intelligence was the most sought-after skill, acknowledged by 45% of the survey participants, closely followed by IT operations (44%) and cloud solution architectures (36%). Additional high-demand skills include API integration (33%), generative AI (32%), cloud solutions for data management and storage (32%), data analysis (30%), cybersecurity and data security (28%), IoT software development (28%), and IT service management (27%).
A significant 63% of IT executives from organizations in North America reported that this skills shortage has impeded their digital transformation efforts, typically delaying projects by three to 10 months. The survey also outlined the adverse effects of these deficiencies within their IT departments.
According to a recent survey analysis by IDC, it’s projected that by 2026, 90% of organizations worldwide will experience a significant IT skills shortage, which could potentially lead to an estimated $5.5 trillion in delays, quality problems, and lost revenue. “Placing the right individuals with the right skills in appropriate positions has become extraordinarily tough,” comments Gina Smith, PhD, research director at IDC’s IT Skills for Digital Business group, in a published statement. “As the gap in IT skills widens and new technologies continue to emerge at a rapid pace, it’s crucial for enterprises to find innovative ways to recruit, educate, and continually enhance the skills of their workforce. Establishing a culture of ongoing learning is the most effective strategy to address this challenge.”
May 2024
IT executives express concern over the lack of specific technological capabilities within their teams, fearing an inability to embrace new technologies, maintain old systems, capitalize on business opportunities, and retain clients if the skills gap does not close.
A survey conducted by online professional training firm Pluralsight shows that 96% of technologists have experienced an increase in their workloads due to the skills shortage, with 78% admitting to abandoning projects midway as they lacked the IT skills needed for completion. Although 78% of organizations acknowledge some improvement in their skills gap compared to the previous year, the survey highlights cybersecurity, cloud services, and software development as the primary areas still affected by skill shortages. IT leaders worry that persisting skills gaps could challenge their organizations’ ability to adapt and grow.
Pluralsight surveyed 1,400 executives and IT professionals across the U.S., U.K., and India to learn more about the technical skills gap and how organizations are addressing a lack of expertise in specific technology areas.
May 2024
Network automation continues to challenge IT leaders, and one factor is a lack of skills on staff.
When research firm Enterprise Management Associates surveyed 354 IT professionals about network automation, just 18% rated their network automation strategies as a complete success, and 54% said they have achieved partial success. The remaining 38% said they were uncertain of the level of success achieved or admitted failure with their network automation projects.
Approximately 26.8% of participants highlighted difficulties with staffing, such as skills deficiencies and employee turnover, as obstacles in conducting business. “The primary challenge I face is finding network engineers who are proficient in automation,” claimed a network engineer from a mid-sized business services firm referenced in the EMA study. “It’s a small community, and locating individuals who are able to assist with issues is tough.”
April 2024
The training and certification organization CompTIA is broadening its range of products and programs to address the increasing demand for expertise in artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming essential to current job assignments while concurrently, new types of employment are appearing on the recruitment agendas of companies. “There are two completely new job categories—prompt engineering and AI systems architects. These roles are in line with the AI objectives of several firms,” noted Teresa Sears, the vice president of product management at CompTIA.
Thomas Reilly, CompTIA’s chief product officer, emphasized the looming necessity for IT professionals to upgrade their AI skills to align with current job market demands, as mentioned in a recent announcement. He outlined plans to develop various certifications and educational courses to support IT professionals through all stages of their careers, from newcomers to highly experienced workers.
February 2024
The total number of new IT jobs introduced in 2023 showed a significant slowdown with only 700 positions added throughout the year, which suggests economic instability and a heightened demand for skills related to emerging technologies. This growth is minimal compared to the addition of 267,000 jobs in 2022, a year marked significantly by tech sector layoffs and cost reduction strategies.
Janco Associates reports that even with a gain of some 21,300 jobs in the final quarter of 2023, the total addition for the year still stood at only 700 new jobs.
“The IT job market currently presents limited opportunities for professionals,” stated M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO at Janco. “In the last year, telecommunications has seen a decline of 26,400 jobs, content providers a decrease of 9,300 positions, and other information services a reduction of 10,300 roles.” He continued, “On the other hand, computer system designers and hosting providers experienced a rise in employment, adding 32,300 and 14,000 jobs respectively.”
January 2024
Robert Half suggests that the overall job market will likely stay robust as we enter 2024. Their recent survey indicates that over half of U.S. companies are set to expand their teams in the first half of the year. This trend is not isolated to the IT field, as 57% of companies aim to create new permanent roles, 39% plan to fill existing vacancies, and 67% intend to employ contract workers as part of their recruitment strategy.
Within the tech sector specifically, 69% of surveyed hiring managers from over 1,850 participants expect to introduce new permanent positions for tech professionals. Despite these positive trends, hiring challenges are anticipated to continue with 90% of managers experiencing difficulty finding skilled professionals and 58% noting increased hiring durations compared to the previous year.
December 2023
Expertise in cloud technologies and security proficiency are essential for constructing modern networks, and they offer lucrative compensation, as reported by Skillsoft in their yearly evaluation of the most lucrative IT certifications. Topping the chart for the highest-paying IT certifications, according to this report, is the Google Cloud-Professional Cloud Architect with an average annual salary of $200,960.
In addition to several certifications in cloud technology, the top 20 list from Skillsoft includes five certifications related to security, networking, and systems architecture:
November 2023
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