According to the TechTarget’s 2023 IT Careers and Salaries Study, which polled over 400 IT professionals in the United States, many companies are actively hiring additional tech employees this year, despite the threat of a recession. The study suggests that software developers and cybersecurity specialists are expected to see the highest demand in the future.
The survey also revealed that the average IT salary in the U.S. is $152,643, with C-level executives earning the highest pay at $237,738. Around 60% of the respondents work for companies with 1,000 employees or fewer.
In terms of hiring plans for C-level tech executives, CIOs topped the list, followed by chief data/analytics/AI officers. About half of the survey respondents stated that they plan to stay in their current roles, while a third are open to new roles but not actively seeking them. Only 11% of respondents said they were actively seeking employment at another company.
The survey also found that environmental, social, and governance programs are important to nearly 80% of IT professionals polled. Additionally, 83% said that the maturity of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have had a positive effect on business performance.
In terms of workplace trends, 54% of respondents said that changes in the work environment within the past year have given them greater flexibility in terms of location and working hours.
According to the study, most IT shops in the U.S. are increasing their employment this year, with 54.5% of respondents stating that their companies are bringing on additional IT personnel compared to last year. Mid-sized firms in the 251-1,000 employee range and large enterprises with over 5,000 employees were the most likely to be hiring more IT talent.
A separate study conducted by Gartner also supports the trend of increased tech hiring. The study found that 81% of large-enterprise CIOs plan to grow their IT headcount in 2023. While these organizations faced obstacles such as hiring freezes, the need to keep up with digital initiatives is driving them to persevere.
James Stanger, chief technology evangelist at CompTIA, an IT industry association, confirmed the hiring trend based on his conversations with CIOs and managed services providers. He noted that many organizations are actively hiring despite the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. However, some companies are struggling to find IT professionals with the exact skills they need, which can dampen hiring efforts. Stanger mentioned that job requirements are often too strict, leading to a lack of qualified candidates.
The study also highlighted the top hiring categories for the next 12 months. Software development was the most sought-after position, with 23% of respondents saying their companies planned to fill application/software development roles. Cybersecurity ranked second, with high demand for security analysts, governance, risk, and compliance managers, and cloud security specialists.
In summary, the TechTarget survey indicates that many companies are actively hiring additional tech employees, with software developers and cybersecurity specialists being in high demand. While some companies face challenges in finding candidates with the specific skills they need, the overall IT employment outlook appears positive.