There's No Shortage of Tech Jobs (Now and in the Future)

It’s hard to turn on the TV or scroll through an online newsfeed lately without seeing news about tech companies missing earnings estimates, job offers being rescinded, and layoffs occurring. Even the tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Meta don’t seem to be immune.

What does this mean for people who want to make the change into a career in tech?  

Full speed ahead! Everything has its ups and downs, and that includes the tech industry. The current events will create opportunities for some — maybe even you. So, even though the message you hear most often on the news highlights the negative, consider this: it may be the best time ever to pursue what you really, truly want to do. Sometimes all you need is a nudge to get you going in the right direction — even if it was unexpected and may feel more like a strong shove.

Some companies are actually laying off employees while still continuing to hire others, indicating that they are able to adapt to the whiplash changes that seem to occur every day in 2022. For example, a business may decide that their dollars should temporarily be routed from having staff skilled in finding the Next Big Thing to keeping staff, such as the help desk personnel, on board who can keep loyal customers happy once turning it off and turning it back on fails to solve the problem with their device.  

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Plotting Your Strategy in Uncertain Times

Being able to adapt is a skill necessary to survival. If you are in a position where you need to adjust your career strategy, take a look at your options. If your actual job title is still in demand overall, but your company is having issues, polishing your resume, updating your LinkedIn profile, and networking your way to greener pastures may be your best route. If you’re an Eleven Fifty grad, getting in touch with our Career Services Team and / or networking in the Atlas group will help boost your signal.

Is your position falling out of demand in general? If so, this may be your opportunity to re-direct your time and energy to learning a new skill or up-skilling a current one so that you can be eligible for the positions that require those skills. Ask your employer if they can help you fund your re-skilling — either by paying upfront or via tuition reimbursement — as a strategy to retain you in another role (onboarding new employees is expensive), or a goodwill “thank you for your work” gesture if you are parting ways. In an uncertain climate, it’s not your fault or theirs — it’s part of living in the “interesting times” that fortune cookies like to warn us about.

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Recruiting in tech is actually on the rise with more than half of employers saying they are looking to hire. With “the big guys” slowing down, some smaller companies who didn’t stand a chance at hiring enough talent are now able to add to their staff.  

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That’s also good news for some who are seeking roles requiring less experience. Getting a foot in the door at a smaller company and a chance to be more hands-on with a variety of tasks is a great way to gain more skills and to beef up a resume.

Looking To the Future

Over the next decade, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that the tech industry as a whole will continue to grow, which means there will be a need for a steady supply of tech talent to fill those open positions and keep things going.

What positions are the most in demand and expected to grow? And what do they actually do?

• Database Administrator, expected to increase by 8%

Create or organize systems to store and secure data

• Cybersecurity Analyst, expected to increase by 33%

Plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems

• Software Developer, expected to increase by 22%

Design computer applications or programs  

• Web Developer, expected to increase by 13%

Create and maintain websites, develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability

• Computer / Research Information Scientists, expected to increase by 22%

Design innovative uses for new and existing computing technology

• Systems Analyst, expected to increase by 7%

Study an organization’s current computer systems and design ways to improve efficiency

• Support and Help Desk Personnel, expected to increase by 9%

Maintain computer networks and provide technical help to computer users

• Quality Analyst / Tester, expected to grow by 22%

Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects

Things are bumpy everywhere right now, but a look around at how deeply technology is infused into all of our lives should show that it’s not going anywhere. If you’d like to learn more about what your options may be, contact our Admissions Team. They can’t predict the future, but they can help you get going in the direction you want.  

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