Network and infrastructure roles continue to shift as enterprises adopt technologies such as AI-driven network operations, multicloud networking, zero trust network access (ZTNA), and SD-WAN. Here’s a recap of some of the latest industry research, hiring statistics, and certification trends that impact today’s network professionals, infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders, and data center teams. Check back for regular updates.

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that while there will be growth for many IT positions between now and 2033, some network and computer systems administrator roles are expected to decline. The number of computer network architects will climb 13.4%, and computer network support specialists will see a 7.3% gain in jobs. Network and computer systems administrators will see a decline of 2.6%, however.

Overall, the market segment that BLS calls “computer and mathematical occupations” is projected to grow 12.9% between 2023 and 2033, increasing by 699,000 jobs. That makes it the second fastest growing occupational group, behind healthcare support occupations (15.2%).

Read the full story here: 10-year forecast shows growth in network architect jobs while sysadmin roles shrink

September 2024

IT employment ticked down .05% in August, leading to a month-over-month reduction of 2,400 jobs, according to TechServe Alliance’s analysis of the high-tech employment market. Annually, the sector saw a decrease of .33%, equating to a loss of 17,500 jobs. However, there was a positive development in the engineering sector, which experienced over a 1% increase compared to the previous year, culminating in the addition of 29,800 positions.

“With a weakening overall job market in August, IT employment has had difficulties gathering momentum,” stated Mark Roberts, TechServe’s CEO, in a statement. “For the year 2024, there has been no significant growth in IT jobs, which have remained essentially flat following 23 months of consistent job losses. Until uncertainties related to the economy, the national election, and ongoing geopolitical issues are resolved, I anticipate IT employment will continue to move sideways.”

September 2024

Employee education and training around AI will become more and more critical as research reveals that a majority of employees do not know how to apply the technology to their jobs.

According to Slingshot’s 2024 Digital Work Trends Report, 77% of employees reported that don’t feel they are completely trained or have adequate training on the AI tools offered to them by managers. And for the most part, managers agree with just 27% saying that they feel employees are completely trained on the AI tools provided to employees.

The research, conducted in Q2 2024 by Dynata and based on 253 respondents, also noted that AI skills and quality data are significant barriers to AI success. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of all respondents noted that their organization doesn’t have AI experts on their team, which is preventing their employers from offering AI tools. Another 45% pointed to the quality of data within the organization as a top reason AI tools aren’t offered at work. A third reason that AI isn’t prevalent in some workplaces is that organizations don’t have the tech infrastructure in place to implement AI tools.

“Data is top of mind for employees too when it comes to AI: 33% of employers say their company would be ready to support AI if their company’s data was combed through for accuracy, and 32% say they need more training around data and AI before their company is ready,” the report reads.

September 2024

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released updated employment figures, showing a continuing decline in the number of job openings relative to unemployed individuals, suggesting a potential increase in overall unemployment rates.

Based on the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) data, there were 7.7 million job vacancies at the end of July, with 5.5 million hires and 5.4 million “separations” logged during the period. The separation count (3.3 million) encompasses resignations, layoffs, and terminations (1.8 million) for the same interval. These figures suggest worsening conditions in the employment sector, as noted by industry analysts.

An analysis from the Indeed Hiring Lab on the BLS data indicated a significant downturn in the labor market. “Instead of slowly returning to its pre-pandemic state, the labor market has cooled beyond that level and is now moving towards significant deterioration,” the report explained.

For IT professionals, according to the BLS data, the number of jobs in the high-tech sector is projected to increase by 5,000 in 2024. However, this growth won’t compensate for the 145,000 unemployed IT workers, as estimated by Janco Associates.

“The current BLS data indicates there are roughly 4.18 million IT jobs in the USA. Ongoing layoffs at major high-tech companies negatively impact the overall IT employment. Giants like Intel, Microsoft, and Google have been cutting jobs to improve profitability,” stated M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Janco. “Moreover, BLS data indicates that while 81,000 IT professionals found employment, 147,000 were actively seeking jobs in June. Our analysis suggests this trend will persist through July and August.”

September 2024

Technology professionals aiming to demonstrate their expertise in data science can now earn validation through CompTIA’s DataX certification program.

CompTIA’s new Xpert Series includes the DataX program, developed from feedback by data scientists from varied sectors. This program emphasizes necessary data scientist skills like mathematics, statistics, modeling, machine learning, and specific data applications. It targets professionals with over five years of experience, identifying their knowledge deficits and offering advanced learning materials.

“Achieving a CompTIA DataX certification reflects a professional’s dedication to excellence in data science,” explained Teresa Sears, Senior Vice President of Product Management at CompTIA, in a statement. “This certification confirms the sophisticated analytical talents that bolster organizational efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the value derived from data.”

August 2024

CompTIA is collaborating with Gebeya Inc., enhancing access to its extensive IT and tech courses. This partnership aims to provide Africans with greater opportunities in IT training and certifications, making use of CompTIA’s resources in IT, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Gebeya, a Pan-African tech talent provider, is dedicated to reducing the digital skills shortage and advancing digital transformation throughout Africa. By joining forces with CompTIA, they aim to enhance the capabilities of tech enthusiasts across the continent. “Through our alliance with CompTIA, we have incorporated a robust training module into the Gebeya Talent Cloud, providing our clients and partners unprecedented access to premier IT education and certification,” stated Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya, in a statement.

CompTIA provides neutral IT certifications that lay the groundwork across multiple IT domains. The institution believes that its array of courses is key in maintaining relevancy in today’s critical tech skills and in boosting global technological proficiency.

“We are united in our goal to bridge the digital skills divide in Africa,” mentioned Benjamin Ndambuki, the African territory development representative for CompTIA, in his remarks. “With the broad network and local insight of Gebeya, coupled with the worldwide acknowledged certifications from CompTIA, we are set to equip the upcoming generation of African tech experts to excel in the emerging digital landscape.”

August 2024

New data released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that previous job growth figures were inaccurately high. It was revealed that the economy added 818,000 fewer jobs than initially thought in the year up to March 2024. This revision and ongoing reports from Indeed showing a gradual uptick in unemployment rates have heightened concerns about a potential recession.

According to Indeed’s Hiring Lab, the unemployment rate has increased by .55 percentage points on a three-month rolling average since reaching a low of 3.5% in January 2023. The corrected figures from the BLS indicate a less robust employment market than once believed, although Indeed notes there are still grounds for “cautious optimism” within the U.S. labor market. The labor market remains appealing due to sustained job postings and wage growth.

“Despite the slowdown from peak levels, wage growth remains comparable to pre-pandemic figures, contributing to increased participation in the labor force from workers,” Indeed noted.

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 don’t know what it means to work in tech, so they’re scared, or they think the jobs are boring or are too hard,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA, in a statement. “We want to educate people about the dynamic employment opportunities available in tech; encourage them to know they can thrive in these jobs; and empower them with the knowledge and skills to succeed.”

Among the new resources is CompTIA Career Explorer, which the nonprofit organization says will help professionals tailor a career path that aligns with their workstyles and lifestyles. With the tool, jobseekers can test drive “a day in the life of specific job roles and challenge themselves with real-time, true-to-life problem solving” related to the jobs.

CompTIA Career+ will provide users with an immersive, interactive video experience that “showcases a day in the life of in-demand job roles,” according to CompTIA. This resource will feature up to 30 job roles, representing about 90% of all tech occupations.

The organization announced the new resources at its CompTIA ChannelCon and Partner Summit conference. “We want people to associate CompTIA with the competencies and skills to work in technology,” Thibodeaux said.

August 2024

A new study conducted by Germany-based biotechnology provider Cytena shows that California provides the highest average salaries in the U.S. for those working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions.

Cytena analyzed salary data for more than 75 STEM jobs listed on company review website Glassdoor to determine which states in the U.S. paid the most for technology talent. California ranks first with an average salary of $124,937 across all the jobs in the study, which included positions ranging from medical professionals to mathematicians and data scientists to network and software engineers. Washington state placed a close second with the average annual salary falling just below $124,000, and New York landed in third place with an average annual salary of $114,437. Following the top three, Nevada, Maryland, Massachusetts, Idaho, Hawaii, Colorado, and Connecticut rounded out the top ten states in the U.S. that pay the highest salaries for STEM-related positions.

July 2024

Friday, July 26 marks the 25^th annual System Administrator Appreciation Day. Always celebrated on the last Friday in July, SysAdmin Day recognizes IT professionals who spend their days ensuring organizations and the infrastructure supporting them run smoothly. Some may say it is a thankless job, which is why Ted Kekatos created the day to honor the men and women working to install and configure hardware and software, manage networks and technology tools, help end users, and monitor the performance of the entire environment.

Network and systems administrators routinely handle complaint calls and resolve incidents for end users, often without receiving ample gratitude for their efforts. Known as the unsung heroes of IT, sysadmins merit the recognition they receive on this special day. Recognizing their long hours and behind-the-scenes work with a token of appreciation or a gift might just be what they deserve.

July 2024

NetBrain Technologies has launched its Network Automation Certification Program. This new initiative aims to acknowledge engineers who possess sophisticated network automation expertise. According to NetBrain, the program provides network engineers an avenue to certify their skills and showcase their capabilities to peers. The initial exams will be held on October 3, following the NetBrain Live Conference in Boston.

NetBrain has announced three different network automation certifications available through their program:

July 2024

Skillsoft announced its partnership with Microsoft to create the AI Skill Accelerator program. This initiative aims to empower organizations to better utilize Microsoft’s AI technologies, including Copilot, Azure Open AI, and other generative AI tools to enhance business productivity and innovation.

“We are excited to initiate this partnership with Microsoft, marking the beginning of numerous AI learning opportunities we plan to introduce to support our clients and their workforce—from daily users to executives to AI developers—in mastering the essential skills and technologies needed in the AI era,” stated Ron Hovsepian, executive chair at Skillsoft, in a statement. The results of Skillsoft’s yearly IT Skills and Salary survey, which included responses from 5,700 tech professionals globally, highlighted that 43% believe their teams require enhancement in AI skills.

The AI Skill Accelerator program from Skillsoft offers a mixed learning approach, featuring on-demand courses, individual and group coaching, live instructor-led sessions, and practical hands-on labs. According to Skillsoft, this program will help customers to:

“Microsoft and Skillsoft have a long-standing relationship and share a common goal to enable AI transformation across every area of business,” said Jeana Jorgensen, corporate vice president of worldwide learning at Microsoft, in a statement. “This learning experience is designed to empower individuals and organizations to harness the full capabilities of generative AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft’s AI apps and services.”

July 2024

Data from IT employment trackers indicate that the technology industry gained over 7,500 new workers in June, while simultaneously, the overall unemployment rate for IT professionals rose.

According to CompTIA, the tech industry welcomed approximately 7,540 new workers in June, representing the most significant monthly increase of the year. CompTIA’s review of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data also revealed that this positive growth was negated by a reduction of 22,000 tech occupations across the U.S. economy. “Despite areas of growth, the recent data shows a degree of downward pressure on tech employment,” said Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA, in a statement. “Several factors, including AI FOMO, seem to lead to a cautious approach by employers towards tech hiring.”

According to Janco Associates, the unemployment rate for IT professionals increased to 5.9% in June, surpassing the national rate of 4.1%. They also noted an addition of 7,700 IT jobs in May 2024. “The number of unemployed IT Pros escalated from 129,000 to 147,000. Despite this, the sector experiences a skills gap, with many positions remaining vacant due to the lack of candidates with necessary training and skills. Approximately 78,000 IT professionals were hired, yet 147,000 are still in search of employment,” stated Janco Associates.

July 2024

CompTIA has updated its Network+ certification, highlighting broader aspects of contemporary network environments, detailed elements pertaining to physical network installations, and enhanced methods to secure and protect networks.

The revised Network+ examination, known as N10-009, includes topics on Software-defined networking (SDN) and SD-WAN. CompTIA explains, “the certification now encompasses infrastructure as code (IaC), recognizing it as a revolutionary method that employs code to streamline the provisioning and maintenance of IT infrastructure.”

The updated Network+ certification program now incorporates zero-trust architecture among other network strengthening strategies. Explore the detailed update here: CompTIA updates Network+ certification

June 2024

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced two new certifications focused on artificial intelligence, aimed at IT professionals eager to enhance their skills and secure AI-related occupations. These certifications are projected to help candidates obtain positions demanding advanced AI capabilities, potentially leading to a 47% salary increment in the IT sector, as detailed by an AWS report.

AWS Certified AI Practitioner is a foundational course that confirms an individual’s understanding of AI, machine learning (ML), and generative AI concepts and applications, according to AWS. Those familiar with AI/ML technologies on AWS and who complete a 120-minute, 85-question course will deepen their understanding of core principles and applications for AI, ML, and genAI. The examination will address various topics including prompt engineering, responsible AI, and security and compliance for AI systems.

AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer—Associate is a 170-minute exam consisting of 85 questions designed to test the technical skills necessary to deploy ML solutions in a production environment effectively. Ideal candidates for this certification usually have at least one year of hands-on experience with Amazon SageMaker and other AWS services relevant to ML engineering. The certification exam covers a range of topics including preparing data for ML, engineering features, training models, ensuring security, and others.

Enrollment for the new AWS certifications commences on August 13.

June 2024

Cisco has introduced a new AI certification designed to equip IT professionals with the skills required to design, set up, and optimize networks and systems for complex AI/ML operations. Announced during its Cisco Live event in Las Vegas, the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)-AI Infrastructure certification is an expert-level, vendor-neutral credential. This certification allows technology professionals to architect network solutions tailored for AI applications, considering specific business needs related to cost-efficiency, power use, and balancing computational and cloud resources with environmental impacts like carbon footprint, as explained by Par Merat, vice president at Cisco Learning and Certifications, in a blog publication reflecting on the new certification.

According to Cisco, its new CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification focuses on subjects like designing for GPU efficiency and creating advanced generative AI network environments. Those who pursue this certification will also delve into the sustainability and regulatory adherence of AI-supportive networks. The necessity for these skills is widespread, as indicated by Cisco’s AI Readiness Index, which highlights that 90% of organizations are actively investing to address AI-related skills shortages. Read more here: Cisco debuts CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification

June 2024

While the search for cybersecurity professionals intensifies, the existing pool of qualified candidates will fall short of meeting the projected demands in 2024. This forecast aligns with findings from CyberSeek, a data collection and analysis initiative by Lightcast, NICE, and CompTIA.

Current statistics suggest that only 85% of cybersecurity positions in the U.S. market can be staffed with the available talent. Furthermore, there is a shortfall of more than 225,000 professionals required to bridge the cybersecurity expertise deficit. Additionally, data reveals a 37% decline in tech job postings from May 2023 to April 2024.

“The demand for cybersecurity professionals is beginning to stabilize back to levels seen before the pandemic, yet the significant gap in cybersecurity talent remains,” stated Will Markow, vice president of applied research at Lightcast. “Concurrently, the rapid emergence of new threats and technological advancements are revolutionizing the skills needed in cybersecurity roles. This rapid evolution prompts employers, educational institutions, and individuals to stay ahead by continuously adapting to the dynamically changing requirements of cybersecurity.”

Some of the most sought-after roles include 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 reported by CyberSeek data.

“Establishing a strong cybersecurity framework often involves adapting talent acquisition strategies,” mentioned Hannah Johnson, senior vice president of tech talent programs at CompTIA. “This can range from upskilling burgeoning cybersecurity professionals to fill higher-level positions, to recruiting individuals who have proven their expertise through professional certifications or other qualifications,” she added in her statement found at CompTIA.

June 2024

Recent employment data indicates that the median salary for IT professionals stands at $100,399, with total compensation, which includes bonuses and benefits, amounting to $103,692. A report by Janco Associates, Inc. highlights that salaries in the IT field have increased by 3.28% over the past year, amidst an IT unemployment rate of 5%. IT executives continue to receive the highest earnings, with their total compensation packages rising by 7.48% and median earnings at $184,354.

Another trend identified by Janco Associates is “salary compression,” which occurs when new hires receive offers at the upper end of the salary spectrum for existing positions, often earning more than those already in similar roles.

It’s noted that midsized enterprises are experiencing higher employee turnover compared to larger enterprises. Additionally, salary growth in midsized companies is outpacing that in larger companies, with increases of 5.46% compared to 2.56% in large enterprises.

May 2024

New research and survey results from IDC show that a growing lack of in-demand IT skills could be negatively impacting businesses’ bottom lines.

The IDC report, Enterprise Resilience: IT Skilling Strategies, 2024, reveals the most in-demand skills at enterprise organizations right now. Among the 811 respondents, artificial intelligence tops the list, cited by 45% of respondents, followed closely by IT operations (44%) and cloud solutions-architecture (36%). Other skills in demand right now include: API integration (33%), generative AI (32%), cloud solutions-data management/storage (32%), data analysis (30%), cybersecurity/data security (28%), IoT software development (28%), and IT service management (27%).

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of the IT leaders at North American organizations said the lack of these skills has delayed digital transformation initiatives, most by an average of three to 10 months. Survey respondents detailed the negative impacts of lacking skills in their IT organizations:

Considering these survey results, IDC predicts that by 2026, 90% of organizations worldwide will feel the pain of the IT skills crisis, potentially costing up to $5.5 trillion in delays, quality issues, and revenue loss. “Getting the right people with the right skills into the right roles has never been so difficult,” says Gina Smith, PhD, research director for IDC’s IT Skills for Digital Business practice, in a statement. “As IT skills shortages widen and the arrival of new technology accelerates, enterprises must find creative ways to hire, train, upskill, and reskill their employees. A culture of learning is the single best way to get there.”

May 2024

A significant concern among IT executives is the current deficiency in specialized technology skills, which poses a threat to the adoption of new technologies, maintenance of existing systems, business growth, and client retention.

A recent study conducted by online professional training platform Pluralsight reveals that 96% of technologists have experienced an increase in workload due to this skills shortage. Additionally, 78% have had to halt projects midway because the necessary IT expertise was lacking to bring them to completion. Despite these challenges, 78% of organizations acknowledge that their skills gap has seen improvement over the past year. The areas most affected by this gap are cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software development. IT leaders express concerns that the ongoing skills shortage within their teams may hinder:

Pluralsight’s survey engaged 1,400 executives and IT professionals from the U.S., U.K., and India, aiming to deepen understanding of the technical skills gap and strategies to combat the scarcity of essential technology expertise.

May 2024

IT leaders continue to grapple with the challenges of network automation, significantly impeded by a deficiency in skilled personnel. Learn more here.

A study by Enterprise Management Associates, which involved 354 IT specialists, found that only 18% consider their network automation efforts wholly successful. Fifty-four percent saw partial success, whereas 38% were either unsure of their success rate or acknowledged failures in their automation initiatives.

Approximately 27% of those surveyed cited gaps in skills and high turnover rates among staff as significant hurdles. A network engineer from a midsize business services firm mentioned in the EMA study indicated, “The primary challenge is the scarce number of network engineers proficient in automation. It’s difficult to find experts who can assist in resolving issues.”

April 2024

CompTIA, a leader in IT certification and training, is broadening its offerings to include more on AI competencies due to increasing demand in this area.

As AI integration becomes imperative for existing roles, new career opportunities are also appearing. “We are now seeing the creation of new professions such as prompt engineering and AI systems architects. These roles are becoming vital within many companies,” expressed Teresa Sears, the vice president of product management at CompTIA.

“To address the growing requirement for AI skills, millions of IT professionals will need to update and expand their knowledge,” stated Thomas Reilly, CompTIA’s chief product officer, in a statement. “Our goal is to develop a comprehensive suite of certifications and training programs that cover every stage of one’s career, from initial knowledge for those just starting out to advanced techniques for seasoned professionals.”

February 2024

In 2023, the IT sector experienced a plateau in job creation, tallying a modest increase of only 700 new positions, showcasing ongoing economic uncertainties and a shift towards skills in cutting-edge technologies. This is a stark contrast to the 267,000 jobs added in 2022, with the significant disparity linked to various layoffs and cost reduction strategies within the tech industry.

Janco Associates reports that despite a surge in the last quarter of 2023, adding 21,300 jobs, the total job creation for the year remained at just 700 positions.

“The current state of the IT job market provides minimal opportunities for IT professionals. Over the previous year, the telecommunications sector saw a reduction of 26,400 jobs, content providers cut 9,300 jobs, and other information services decreased by 10,300 jobs,” stated M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Janco. “On the contrary, computer system design and hosting services sectors performed better, adding 32,300 and 14,000 jobs respectively.”

January 2024

Robert Half has shared projections stating that the job market is expected to stay robust into 2024. Insights from their recent study reveal that over half of American businesses are set to ramp up hiring activities during the initial six months of 2024. Although these findings are comprehensive, the survey indicated that 57% of companies aim to establish new permanent roles in the first half of the year, 39% look to fill existing vacancies, and 67% intend to employ contractors as part of their recruitment strategies.

Within the tech industry alone, a substantial 69% of the surveyed 1,850+ hiring managers affirmed plans to create new permanent positions. Nevertheless, hurdles are set to continue through the new year, with Robert Half reporting that 90% of hiring managers struggle to find qualified professionals, and 58% observe an increased duration in the hiring process for available positions compared to the previous year.

December 2023

Cloud expertise and security knowledge are crucial for developing modern networks, and these competencies are highly rewarded, as per Skillsoft’s yearly index of the highest-value IT certifications. Topping its list of the 20 highest-paying IT certifications is the Google Cloud-Professional Cloud Architect, commanding an average yearly salary of $200,960.

Moreover, the top 20 list by Skillsoft includes several cloud-related certifications alongside five credentials in security, networking, and systems architecture.

November 2023

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