Executives are expecting big things from IT in 2024 and are investing additional funds to realize their technology goals. Foundry's 2024 State of the CIO Survey found that more than half (54%) of CIOs surveyed said their budgets will expand this year, while only 11% said they will shrink. . CIOs say the top three technology initiatives driving these IT investment increases are security and risk management (45%), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (44%), and business process and IT automation (44%). ).
Despite these additional financial resources, CIOs will face significant challenges in achieving their goals due to a lack of talent with the necessary skills. Foundry's research found that the most sought-after skill sets are cybersecurity (42%), AI and machine learning (39%), and data science and analytics (32%).
According to global talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half's 2024 report, Building Future-Ready Technology Teams, these skill sets are the most difficult to recruit for, with AI and machine learning ( ML) is ranked number 1. Cybersecurity and data science will follow.
However, in his report, Robert Half also suggests strategies to fill these gaps. When recruiting, organizations should focus on identifying high-potential professionals who are enthusiastic and willing to learn, rather than looking for candidates who meet all skill requirements. Flag candidates who ask insightful questions during interviews or who have previously taken the initiative to earn an in-demand certification.
In the short term, organizations will need to find ways to close these skills gaps immediately, especially given that boards expect to rapidly deploy AI capabilities into their IT departments. A scalable workforce model that leverages a combination of contractors and internal employees gives IT organizations the flexibility to acquire specialized skills needed for immediate projects while developing those skills over time through recruitment and in-house training. can do. Taking this approach is also a good way to identify and hire people to join your team permanently. According to Robert Half, 75% of small businesses and 69% of large businesses include contract workers on their teams.
Finally, create a continuous learning cycle that fosters innovation. There are several ways to do this:
Offer job rotation programs that allow employees to discover different career paths within your organization Encourage participation in hackathons Invite external trainers to conduct workshops on new technologies Provide IT professionals with a sandbox environment AI that provides a platform and access to datasets for experimentation and learning within
The IT skills gap is large and difficult to close, but organizations can address it by adopting the right strategies and partnering with the right organizations. Even better, you can do it while building a foundation of employees who upskill as technology advances. Robert Half has been working with companies of all sizes to help them solve their talent challenges for more than 75 years. The company provides contract, permanent, and executive search services to help companies secure the skills they need to achieve their goals.
Partner with Robert Half today.
