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.

IT employment ticked down .05% in August, resulting in the loss of 2,400 jobs, month-over-month, according to an analysis of the high-tech employment market by TechServe Alliance. On a yearly basis, the IT job market shrunk by .33% with a loss of 17,500 positions. On a more positive note, the staffing company noted that engineering positions saw a more than 1% increase in a year-over-year comparison, adding 29,800 jobs in the same period.

“As the overall job market softened in August, IT employment continued to struggle to gain momentum,” said Mark Roberts, TechServe’s CEO, in a statement. “Throughout 2024, job growth in IT has been effectively flat after 23 consecutive months of job losses. I continue to see IT employment moving sideways until the fog of uncertainty lifts over the economy, the national election, and ongoing geopolitical turbulence.”

September 2024

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into workplaces, educating and training employees on how to effectively utilize this technology is becoming essential. Research shows that the majority of employees are still unsure how to leverage AI in their roles.

A statistic from the 2024 Digital Work Trends Report by Slingshot indicates that 77% of employees feel they haven’t been fully trained on AI tools that their managers make available. Furthermore, only 27% of managers believe that their employees are fully trained in using these tools.

The study, carried out by Dynata in the second quarter of 2024 with 253 participants, identifies AI expertise and high-quality data as major obstacles to effectively implementing AI technologies. It highlights that 64% of respondents believe the absence of AI specialists within their organisation hinders the provision of AI tools, and 45% blame poor data quality as a primary reason why AI tools are not pervasive in their workplace. The lack of necessary technological infrastructure is another barrier for AI implementations in some companies.

Concerns about data also resonate with employees, as reflected in the report, which states that 33% of employers believe their organization could support AI initiatives if their data were thoroughly verified for accuracy. Furthermore, 32% of employees indicate a need for additional training concerning data and AI to prepare their company for these advancements, according to the report.

September 2024

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has recently published new employment figures indicating that the ratio of job openings per unemployed person is in decline, suggesting rising unemployment levels.

The latest BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report notes that job openings fell to 7.7 million by the end of July. The data also showed that hires were at 5.5 million, while separations, which include quits, layoffs, and discharges, totaled 3.3 million with discharges accounting for 1.8 million. These figures indicate worsening conditions in the employment sector.

An analysis from the Indeed Hiring Lab of the BLS data indicated, “The labor market has not only cooled from its pre-pandemic levels, but it has also fallen below those marks. We’ve moved past moderation and are now seeing a trend towards deterioration.”

For IT professionals, the BLS data indicates that there might be a slight increase in high tech jobs by approximately 5,000 positions in 2024. However, this increment will not suffice to balance the estimated 145,000 unemployed IT workers, according to Janco Associates.

“The recent analysis of BLS data reveals that there are about 4.18 million jobs available for IT professionals in the US. Continuous layoffs at major tech firms adversely affect overall IT employment. Companies like Intel, Microsoft, and Google are trimming their workforce to enhance their financial performance,” stated M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Janco. “BLS data also shows that while 81,000 IT professionals were employed, about 147,000 were job-seeking in June. We anticipate this trend to persist through July and August.”

September 2024

IT experts aiming to authenticate their skills in data science can now validate their proficiency through CompTIA’s DataX certification program.

Recently launched as part of CompTIA’s Xpert Series, the DataX program was developed with contributions from data scientists across various sectors. It emphasizes the critical skills needed for data science professionals, including mathematics and statistics, modeling, analysis and outcomes, operations and processes, machine learning, and specific data science applications. Targeted at data scientists with over five years of experience, the program aims to highlight and address knowledge deficiencies while providing advanced educational content.

“Obtaining a CompTIA DataX certification signifies 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 high-level analytical capabilities that enable organizations to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the value obtained from data.”

August 2024

In collaboration with Gebeya Inc., CompTIA is set to extend its range of IT, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing courses to Africans keen on technology. This partnership facilitates access to IT training and certification opportunities through CompTIA for those in Africa interested in advancing their tech skills.

Gebeya, a Pan-African talent cloud technology provider, emphasizes its commitment to bridging the digital skills divide and advancing digital transformation throughout Africa. Through a collaboration with CompTIA, they aim to enhance the capabilities of future tech professionals on the continent. “Our strategic partnership with CompTIA allows us to integrate a comprehensive skilling module within the Gebeya Talent Cloud, enabling our customers and partners to offer unmatched access to world-class IT training and certifications to their talent communities,” stated Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya, in a statement.

CompTIA provides vendor-neutral IT certifications spanning various core IT domains. The organization claims that its array of courses can aid individuals in keeping pace with demanding technology skills and boost technical proficiency globally.

“We share a mission to eliminate the digital skills gap in Africa,” remarked Benjamin Ndambuki, the territory development representative for Africa at CompTIA, in a statement. “With Gebeya’s vast influence and local know-how, combined with CompTIA’s internationally acknowledged certifications, we are equipped to enable a new generation of African tech professionals to succeed in the digital landscape.”

August 2024

New data released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates a significant misreport of job growth figures previously thought to be accurate. The revised report highlights that the job market saw 818,000 fewer jobs added throughout the year ending March 2024 than was first estimated. This correction aligns with specific findings from Indeed that the unemployment rate is incrementally rising, provoking concerns about a potential recession.

Further insights from Indeed’s Hiring Lab reveal that the unemployment rate, over a three-month average, has increased by .55 percentage points from its lowest point at 3.5% in January 2023. Even though the latest BLS statistics depict a less robust employment environment than initially thought, Indeed maintains a stance of “cautious optimism” regarding the future of the U.S. job market, hinting at sustained job availability and steady wage increases as potential draws for increasing workforce participation.

Among the optimistic signals are not only the persistent job opportunities but also the sustained strong wage growth, which, although reduced from its recent peaks, continues to be comparable to pre-pandemic rates, as reported by 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 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 recent study by the German biotechnology company Cytena indicates that California offers the highest average salaries for roles within the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) sectors in the United States.

The research evaluates salary information from over 75 STEM professions listed on Glassdoor, revealing California at the top with average earnings of $124,937. Jobs analyzed range from medical professionals to mathematicians, and data scientists to network and software engineers. Washington state nearly matches this with an average salary just shy of $124,000, while New York is third with an average of $114,437. Following these are Nevada, Maryland, Massachusetts, Idaho, Hawaii, Colorado, and Connecticut, completing the list of top ten states where STEM-related salaries are notably high.

July 2024

Coming up on Friday, July 26 is the 25^th annual System Administrator Appreciation Day. Celebrated on the last Friday of July, SysAdmin Day honors IT professionals dedicated to ensuring organizational infrastructure operates efficiently. It’s a profession often perceived as thankless, which inspired Ted Kekatos to establish the day in recognition of those managing and maintaining hardware and software, overseeing networks and technology, assisting users, and supervising overall performance.

Network and systems administrators receive numerous calls to resolve issues for end users, often without acknowledgment of their significant contributions. As unsung heroes in IT, sysadmins truly merit recognition on their special day, perhaps even with a token of appreciation for their tireless work and behind-the-scenes efforts.

July 2024

NetBrain Technologies recently announced the launch of its Network Automation Certification Program. This initiative aims to honor engineers possessing sophisticated network automation expertise. The program intends to empower network engineers to verify their capabilities and effectively showcase these skills to peers, as indicated by NetBrain. The initial assessments for this program will take place on October 3, following the NetBrain Live Conference in Boston.

NetBrain currently offers three tiers of network automation certifications, as detailed on their official site.

July 2024

Skillsoft has partnered with Microsoft on creating the AI Skill Accelerator initiative aimed at equipping organizations with the necessary skills to effectively utilize Microsoft AI technologies, including Copilot and Azure Open AI, among other generative AI tools. This program seeks to bolster business efficiency and foster innovation through adept use of genAI solutions.

“Our partnership with Microsoft marks the beginning of numerous AI-focused educational opportunities we aim to provide, supporting our clients and their employees—from casual users to executives and AI developers—in mastering the essential skills and technologies required for success in this AI-driven era,” stated Ron Hovsepian, Executive Chair at Skillsoft, in a press release. Skillsoft’s yearly IT Skills and Salary survey, which gathered insights from 5,700 tech professionals globally, revealed that 43% believe their team’s AI capabilities need enhancement.

The AI Skill Accelerator by Skillsoft provides a comprehensive learning ecosystem that includes on-demand sessions, personal and group coaching, live instruction-led workshops, and interactive practical labs. Skillsoft highlights that this program will empower clients 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 shows that the technology industry added more than 7,500 new workers in June, while at the same time the overall unemployment rate for IT pros increased.

According to CompTIA, the tech industry added some 7,540 new workers in June, which marks the biggest monthly increase so far this year. CompTIA’s analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data also shows that the positive growth was offset by a loss of 22,000 tech occupations throughout the U.S. economy. “Despite pockets of growth, the recent data indicates a degree of downward pressure on tech employment,” said Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA, in a statement. “A combination of factors, including AI FOMO, likely contributes to segments of employers taking a wait and see approach with tech hiring.”

According to Janco Associates, the unemployment rate among IT professionals increased to 5.9% in June, surpassing the national rate of 4.1%. In May, the sector saw an addition of 7,700 new jobs. However, the total number of unemployed IT professionals climbed from 129,000 to 147,000 due to a persistent skills gap. Janco reported that, despite the creation of new employment opportunities, many remain unfilled as the available workforce lacks necessary training and experience. Per their findings, while 78,000 IT professionals were employed during this period, 147,000 were still job hunting.

July 2024

CompTIA has revised its Network+ certification, enhancing its focus on contemporary network environments, aspects of physical network setups, and strategies for more effectively securing and fortifying networks. The revamped Network+ exam, designated as N10-009, now includes discussions on software-defined networking (SDN), SD-WAN, and introduces infrastructure as code (IaC), a method believed to optimize the management and operational support of computing infrastructure, as detailed by CompTIA.

The latest update to the Network+ certification now includes the integration of zero-trust architecture and additional network security measures. For further details, refer to the complete article: 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 pursue AI-oriented positions. These certifications are expected to help professionals secure higher-paying jobs by offering knowledge in emerging AI technologies, with potential earnings 47% above average in the IT field, as reported by an AWS study.

The AWS Certified AI Practitioner is a basic course designed to affirm a candidate’s understanding of AI, machine learning (ML), and generative AI. Tailored for individuals who are experienced with AI and ML technologies on AWS, the program involves a 120-minute, 85-question course that explores essential concepts and applications of AI and ML including prompt engineering, responsible AI usage, and ensuring security and compliance in AI systems.

AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer—Associate is a test lasting 170 minutes and includes 85 questions designed to gauge the technical competence in deploying and managing ML workloads effectively. It’s ideal for individuals with a minimum of one year experience in Amazon SageMaker and related ML engineering services from AWS. The test encompasses areas such as data preparation, feature engineering, training models, security, and more.

Registration for these new AWS certifications begins on August 13.

June 2024

At the Cisco Live event in Las Vegas, Cisco introduced a new AI certification called the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)-AI Infrastructure. As an expert-level, vendor-neutral certification, it prepares IT professionals to create, provision, and optimize networks and systems for intensive AI/ML workloads. It allows tech experts to design network architectures tailored for AI applications while balancing business-specific demands like cost efficiency, power consumption, computational power, and environmental impact. Par Merat, the Vice President of Cisco Learning and Certifications, discussed these features in a blog post.

According to Cisco, the newly introduced CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification covers topics like GPU optimization design and the creation of high-performance generative AI network fabrics. This certification also emphasizes sustainability and compliance in networks supporting AI. It comes in response to the Cisco AI Readiness Index findings, which show that 90% of organizations are investing in training to address the AI skills shortage. Read more about this certification at: Cisco debuts CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification

June 2024

The demand for cybersecurity talent continues to outstrip supply, with the latest data from CyberSeek indicating that the available workforce will only suffice for 85% of the cybersecurity roles in the 2024 U.S. market. CyberSeek, a data tool developed through the partnership of Lightcast, NICE, and CompTIA, highlights an ongoing need for over 225,000 workers to bridge the cybersecurity skills gap. Additionally, job listings across all tech positions have seen a 37% reduction from May 2023 to April 2024. More details can be found on: CyberSeek, Lightcast, NICE, and CompTIA.

“Although demand for cybersecurity jobs is beginning to normalize to pre-pandemic levels, the longstanding cyber talent gap persists,” said Will Markow, vice president of applied research at Lightcast, in a statement. “At the same time, new threats and technologies are causing cybersecurity skill requirements to evolve at a breakneck pace, forcing employers, educators, and individuals to proactively anticipate and prepare for an ever-changing cyber landscape.”

Positions in the highest demand 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, according to the CyberSeek data.

“Building a robust cybersecurity presence often requires changes in talent acquisition strategies and tactics,” said Hannah Johnson, senior vice president, tech talent programs, CompTIA, in a statement. “That can include upskilling less experienced cybersecurity professionals for more advanced roles, or hiring people who demonstrate subject matter expertise via professional certifications or other credentials.”

June 2024

Recent employment data shows that the median salary for IT professionals is now $100,399, with total compensation (including bonuses and fringe benefits) reaching $103,692. Management consulting firm Janco Associates, Inc. reported that IT salaries have risen by 3.28% in the past 12 months, even while the unemployment rate for IT workers hits 5%. Executives continue to see the biggest paychecks with total compensation packages increasing by 7.48% and median compensation reaching $184,354.

“Salary compression” is another trend Janco Associates noted. This occurs when new hires are offered salaries at the higher end of the pay range for existing positions, often getting paid more than current employees in the same roles.

Midsized enterprise companies are seeing more attrition than their large enterprise counterparts, while salaries in midsized companies are also rising faster than they are in large enterprises. Salary levels in midsized enterprises increased 5.46% versus 2.56% in larger enterprises, according to Janco Associates.

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, said 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 absence of specific technology skills, which is seen as a blocker in adopting new technologies, maintaining legacy systems, sustaining business opportunities, and retaining clients if the skills shortage continues.

A recent study done by Pluralsight, a leader in online professional training, highlights that 96% of technologists experienced an increased workload due to the skills gap. Furthermore, 78% have had to abandon projects midway because of a lack of necessary IT skills within their teams. Although a majority of organizations (78%) feel there has been an improvement in the skills gap compared to last year, notable deficits remain in areas such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software development. IT leaders express concern that these gaps will hinder their ability to function effectively.

Pluralsight surveyed 1,400 executives and IT professionals from the U.S., U.K., and India to gather insights into the technical skills shortage and how it’s being managed.

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.

More than one-fourth (26.8%) of the respondents pointed to staffing issues such as skills gaps and staff churn as a business challenge. “The most challenging thing for me is the lack of network engineers who can contribute to automation,” said a network engineer at a midmarket business services company in the EMA report. “The community is small, and it’s hard to find people who can help you solve a problem.”

April 2024

CompTIA, a leader in IT certification and training, is widening its offerings to include more AI-focused products and programs in response to the increasing need for AI skills in the workforce.

AI is becoming essential for current job roles and is also creating new career opportunities. “We are seeing the rise of new job roles such as prompt engineering and AI systems architects. These are in line with the AI strategies of numerous companies,” stated Teresa Sears, vice president of product management at CompTIA.

“To stay relevant in the job market, millions of IT professionals will have to develop new AI capabilities,” explained Thomas Reilly, CompTIA’s chief product officer, in a statement. “Our goal is to provide a spectrum of certifications and training programs that cover the entire career spectrum, from basic knowledge for those just starting out or early in their careers to complex skills for seasoned professionals.”

February 2024

The total number of new IT positions opened in the year 2023 saw little growth, with only 700 new jobs created. This development is indicative of ongoing economic apprehensions and an escalated focus on advanced technological skills. By contrast, the year 2022 experienced a surge in IT recruitment, boasting an addition of 267,000 jobs. Observers suggest this dramatic disparity results from a series of tech sector layoffs and other economy-driven cost reduction strategies.

Janco Associates notes that while there was a slight job market recovery with approximately 21,300 roles added in the later quarter of 2023, the net job creation for the whole year remained limited to just 700 positions.

“According to our research, the current state of the IT job market and the prospects for IT professionals are quite discouraging. Over the last year, the telecommunications sector saw a reduction of 26,400 jobs; content providers and other information services experienced declines of 9,300 and 10,300 jobs respectively,” commented M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Janco. “On the flip side, this period saw computer system design companies adding 32,300 positions, and hosting services expanded by 14,000 jobs.”

January 2024

Robert Half forecasts a robust job market as we enter 2024. Their latest study indicates that over half of American enterprises are set to expand their workforce in the initial six months of the year. This forecasting encompasses various sectors, with a focus on 57% of businesses aiming to create new permanent roles and 39% looking to fill existing vacancies. Additionally, 67% of these companies intend to employ contract workers as part of their recruitment strategy.

In the technology domain specifically, from the survey of more than 1,850 hiring managers, 69% confirmed plans to establish new permanent positions for tech professionals. However, even with this positive outlook, there are still hurdles anticipated. Robert Half’s data highlights that 90% of managers encounter difficulties in recruiting skilled professionals, with 58% noting an increase in the duration to fill positions compared to the previous year.

December 2023

Cloud expertise and security knowledge are essential in constructing modern networks, and these capabilities are highly rewarded, as shown by Skillsoft’s annual survey of the most profitable IT certifications. Leading the list of the top 20 highest-paying IT certifications is the Google Cloud-Professional Cloud Architect, commanding an average yearly income of $200,960.

Besides multiple cloud certifications, Skillsoft’s top 20 list also includes five certifications related to security, networking, and system architecture.

November 2023

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