The results of current studies for job hunts reveal that more employers moving toward skill-based hiring and compensation models. Skills lead to degrees and almost become the new currency of work. LinkedIn (a professional networking site) proved these facts by mentioning in its latest report that skill-based job postings increased by 21% rather than qualification.
In this expeditious world of information technology, digital and AI-powered technologies have changed the scenario of work. It has increased the need to learn new in-demand IT skills to drag and hunt future jobs. A report by “The World Economic Forum” says that 50% of currently employed persons have to reskill their abilities with information technologies by 2025.
The top 10 IT skills in demand for 2025, supported by facts and figures, that are shaping the industry landscape are,
- Data Science
- Machine Learning
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cloud computing
- DevOps
- Blockchain Technology
- User Experience (UE) Design
- Network & Software Development
- Product Management
Let’s take a deep breath and delve a little deeper.
1: Data Science
The International Data Corporation (IDC) reported that the data market is set to grow to $294.3 billion by 2025, showing the importance of data in decision-making strategies. But despite these facts, most of the organizations have not yet reached their optimal level. Gartner reported that 91% of industries do not attain the transformational level of maturity in Data Science. If we discuss the salaries of Data scientists they depend on education level and experience, that’s why they vary. On average it typically ranged between $ 124,000 and $ 153,000.
Data science is a multi-disciplinary field. Up to the foundational level, it required a master’s degree in economics, computer science, statistics, and most importantly programming and language development. Along with these technical skills, there are also some soft skills required for proficiency such as querying, problem-solving, social media mining, communication, and intellectual curiosity.
2: Machine Learning
Machine learning technologies help companies as well as employees to deliver innovative products and services more efficiently. A report by Grand View Research mentioned that the AI market is expected to reach $ 267 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 33.2% from 2020 to 2027. LinkedIn also mentioned in its “emerging jobs report lists” that job posting for Artificial Intelligence Specialist lies on top of the list and poses a 74 percent annual growth rate.
With these figures, it’s no wonder that machine learning falls in the top 10 in-demand IT skills for 2025. Machine learning is the main component of Artificial intelligence. It makes it possible for computers to learn and work more efficiently even if they are not being programmed, with the help of advanced algorithms. To become proficient in Machine learning professionals, one must be skilled in Python, Java, R, and JavaScript languages followed by Julia and LISP.
3: Cybersecurity
It is a fact that information technology overlaps the entire business world. Thus, access usage also increases the chances of data loss risks, hackers, data theft, viruses, and swarms increased. This has increased the demand for Cybersecurity professionals. The “Cybersecurity Ventures” reported that global spending to solve security issues exceeds $ 1 trillion. Another report by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the share of IT security specialists in the job market will be increased by 32 percent by 2032.
The skills that are more demanding in Cybersecurity are application security, network security, penetration test, and cloud security. Along with these, fundamental skills such as security control, risk assessment, frameworks, and intrusion detection can bolster the market values. The advanced technologies, threat management, and threat detection modeling keep this profession at its optimal level and can add a 16% increase to their basic earnings. The average annual salary of a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is around $120,000, making it one of the highest-paying IT certifications.
4: Artificial Intelligence
The advancement of the IT field with artificial intelligence (AI) skills is the key factor of success. Artificial Intelligence enables computer programs to perform similarly to human perception and has the potential to reshape almost every aspect of our daily lives. It is noted in different survey reports that about 33% of IT job postings were related to Artificial Intelligence and it is expected that 97 million more jobs will be generated by 2025. A report presented by Grand View Research stated that the global AI market is expected to reach $ 267 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 32% from 2020 to 2025.
To become an AI specialist, one should learn advanced computer-based skills like machine learning, data science, languages, and algorithms along with this deep knowledge about some Mathematical concepts i.e. calculus, algebra, statistics, and probability is necessary. No-code and low-code AI solution is also another reason for AI’s importance.
5: Networks and Software Development
The demand for ordinary network professionals is still outpacing supply, and a 4 to 5 percent increase is projected over the next years with new roles and responsibilities. The list of professional tech skills in this age of mobilization would not be completed without software development. It is estimated that 451,200 projects will be opened yearly for software developers and quality assurance analysts in the coming decade.
Traditional network professionals have to be equipped with modern cloud networking, cloud architecture, and wireless network security technologies to compete for future challenges. The new emerging technologies like software-defined wide area network(SD-WAN), software-defined networking, zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and secure access edge(SASE) need to be skilled for a secure future. To become a highly-demanded software developer in 2025 one should be perfect in programming languages i.e. GO, PHP, C#, Swift, R, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, and C++.
6: Cloud Computing
Cloud computing skills can also lie in the top 10 in-demand IT skills for 2025 as many companies have transformed to cloud solutions from server infrastructure. “Gartner” reported in its report that the share of worldwide public cloud services in the business market is projected to grow by 25.1% in 2025, reaching a total of $ 355.5 billion. Microsoft Azure, Docker DevOps, Google Cloud, and Kubernetes are the most in-demand skills where specialists are paid the highest salaries.
Skill-soft recently conducted a salary survey and according to its finding two of the top three highest-paying IT jobs were in Cloud Computing, the first one is AWS Certified Solution Architect specialists earn up to $168,080 and the second one is Google Cloud specialists earn up to $ 161,371. However other than these two, many other cross-platform skills related to Cloud also most demanding in the market such as application and web development, cloud migration, application programming interfaces, cloud management and security, and database management and storage.
7: DevOps
DevOps is another hottest tech skill we found among almost all analyses for demanding job postings and salary data. The market shares for DevOps exceeded $5 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow by over 20% between 2020 and 2025 which is proof for the bright future of any DevOps skill. A recent study of “DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) stated that companies that adopt DevOps practices experience a 24 times faster recovery from failures and a 3 times lower change failure rate.
To become a highly skilled professional in DevOps, one must first understand its basic mechanism as it is a cultural philosophy. DevOps is a set of practices and tools that integrate software development and developers to shorten the development cycle. In short, DevOps is not static it requires different dynamic models and mindsets, we need to practice continuous integration, the infrastructure of code, and testing and delivery in addition to Python, PHP, PERL, and Java.
8: Block-chain Technology Knowledge
Blockchain technology is an advanced database mechanism that permits transparent information sharing to operate a business network efficiently because a blockchain database stores data in blocks that are linked together in a chain. The Grand View Research reported that the size of the global Blockchain market is expected to reach $ 39.7 billion by 2025. The most developed organizations like IBM, Microsoft, Accenture, etc. are the leading players that tend to invest heavily in Blockchain technology.
The main blockchain protocols and different types of platforms available for application development, are Hyper ledger fabric, Ethereum, Corda, and Quorum. The basic features on which block-chain technology relies are decentralization, Immutability, and consensus.
9: User Experience (UX) Design
User experience (UX) refers to the process of creating services and products that have meaningful experiences for users and also includes branding, function, usability, and design user’s journey when interacting with a product or service. UX design is the process of creating products or services that provide meaningful experiences for users, involving many different areas of product development including branding, usability, function, and design. The importance of this field is pro. The report by “Forrester Research” is the witness of this emerging skill, stating that the rate of prioritizing user experience by companies is higher than 400%. The survey conducted on the data provided by Indeed states that demand for UX designers increased by 20% from 2019 to 2022.
Key responsibilities of UI designers include choosing fonts, and visual elements, and creating individual components. The facts presented by the UX Design Institute demonstrate that 70% of managers have increased the size of their design team in this decay. According to BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), the share of digital designers in the world business sector is expected to grow by 8% by 2025. So, we can say UX is a promising career path for aspiring designers.
10: Product Management
To deal with the challenges brought on by The Pandemic new challenges in all fields of life, thus in the business sector to meet these challenges product managers are hired. The main responsibility of these managers is to launch and maintain successful tech products and workforce to avoid any shortage. It is estimated that more than 500,000 positions have been created in the last few years. The basic earnings for an entry-level product manager average $75,000, while experienced pros average $133,212 per year.
The hot product management skills need a technical background with coding expertise. Some other important competencies owners prefer to look for in a product manager are customer customer-centric mindset, market-oriented, business acumen combined with dedication, and the ability to lead without formal authority.
Summary
In conclusion, the data and trends support the critical role of these top IT skills in the current and future technology landscape. But the key factor of success in any field is to have the ability to demonstrate, a willingness to learn, and be updated. These are the crucial abilities managers observe when they hire new IT staff. As the digital frontier continues to evolve, professionals equipped with these skills will be at the forefront of innovation and success.
FAQS
Q: Which skills are included in Data Science?
A: We can’t answer this question in any specific terms. Mostly, it required a master’s degree in economics, computer science, statistics, and most importantly programming and language development.
Q: Are machine learning and artificial intelligence the same?
A: No, machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence.
Q: Is there any difference between UE and UI?
A: Yes, user interface (UI) is the expression of the relation between user and IT services as computer systems applications, and software, and on the other hand user experience(UE) deals with the user’s overall experience with services, products, and systems.