Top 10 IT Positions Companies Will Struggle to Hire for in 2024

Amidst the expansion of machine learning, cloud computing, large dataset, software, mobile applications, social media, gaming… companies big and small are relying on highly-specialized IT experts.

Indeed, for businesses wanting to keep up, finding top tech talent is a priority—and can be an uphill struggle. Many are after high-demand technical skills, from software development to data-oriented knowhow, according to our 2024 State of Tech Hiring report.

We asked our panel of recruiters which positions they predict will be the most difficult to fill in 2024. Here’s their top 10:

Back-end Developer/Engineer

Back-end developers, the backbone of web and software development, play a crucial role in building and maintaining the server-side of applications. This year, demand for back-end developers remains high, reflecting the integral role they play in creating seamless user experiences.

Difficulty to find talented back-end developers is essentially linked to demand. Indeed, back-end developers are the second most sought-after developers on the market (behind full-stack developers).

AI/Machine Learning Specialist

Demand for machine learning and AI specialists is on the rise—and recruiters are in the hot seat!

34% of developers are eager to learn more about machine/deep learning

Indeed, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) continues to reshape industries. AI/ML specialists, with their expertise in complex algorithms and data analysis, are in growing demand (21% of recruiters are looking to hire machine learning/AI specialists, vs. 18% last year). 

For the first time ever, AI specialist positions have made the podium for the most difficult roles to fill. This new challenge has knocked full-stack roles down to third place, after multiple years in the top spot.

Fortunately, 34% of developers are eager to learn more about machine/deep learning this year. Maybe upskilling internal team members is the answer?

Full-stack Developer/Engineer

Full-stack developers, adept at both front-end and back-end development, remain a coveted asset for companies looking to streamline their development processes. The demand reflects the industry’s shift towards versatile professionals who can navigate all layers of application development.

DevOps

The ability to deploy code rapidly and with fewer errors is driving companies to seek engineers with DevOps skills. However, the multidisciplinary nature of the role, covering development, operations, security, testing, and analytics, makes finding qualified DevOps professionals challenging.

All in all, DevOps are tricky to find, expensive to employ and hard to keep.

Applications Developer

Applications developers, responsible for creating and improving software applications, serve as a vital link between development teams and end-users. Organizations’ demand for applications developers underscores the importance of enhancing software functionality and user experience.

“Application engineering combines EDA knowledge with sales, technical marketing, and certain psychological qualities that make filling the position especially challenging.”

Kateřina Smrckova, Senior Human Relations Specialist at Codasip

Front-end Developer/Engineer

Front-end developers shape the user interface and experience, addressing the growing expectations of today’s users for faster and more exciting web interactions. The demand for front-end developers reflects the ongoing need for visually appealing and user-friendly websites.

Software Architect

Software architects, responsible for defining system components and their interactions, are crucial in bridging the gap between business needs and technological solutions, translating organizational goals into effective technical strategies. 

Software architects are in high demand due to the increasing complexity of software systems, where their expertise is crucial for designing scalable and maintainable solutions.

“These positions (architect engineers) are hard to fill because they require expertise with legacy systems and expertise with new cutting-edge technologies […] They are increasingly in demand but are not a combination of skills that you can necessarily pick up with the same ease you would with some of the new coding languages like Python.”

Emma Liebmann, Head of Talent Acquisition at Collage.com, in an interview with TechRepublic

Cloud Engineer

The shift towards cloud computing has elevated the importance of cloud engineers, who manage server administration, networking, and application deployment on virtual and physical platforms. 

Demand for cloud engineers reflects the widespread adoption of cloud services in modern IT infrastructure.

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity engineers, tasked with designing and implementing security systems, play a critical role in safeguarding organizational networks. Demand for cybersecurity engineers persists in 2024 due to the increasing threat landscape, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the diverse skill set required for the role.

“Demand for Cybersecurity engineers is much higher than supply: cyber training courses are still fairly limited and very recent, so there are few experienced professionals compared to the growing demand (ever increasing threat, regulatory framework that’s starting to develop). And companies don’t tend to shine much light on the role, so it doesn’t attract many people. Moreover it requires a very large range of skills: (very) good technical knowledge in various IT areas, risk management, methodology, legal grasp, communication & popularization skills, budget management etc.).”

Frédéric Thirard, Head of Cybersecurity at CoderPad

Data Scientist

Data scientists, with expertise in handling and analyzing large datasets, are integral to organizations seeking insights and automation through data-driven decision-making.

Demand for data scientists highlights the growing recognition of the need to harness valuable data for strategic purposes.Such data is usually highly sensitive, which makes it especially important to have skilled workers who can process valuable data without jeopardizing the company.