Although hiring slowed somewhat and incentives to work increased in 2023, finding top talent remains a struggle for hiring managers. Forbes called this industry trend “the forever labor shortage,” after reports that labor force participation will continue to fall as Baby Boomers retire.
The good news is that the employment picture remains bright for tech professionals as tech innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) continue to create opportunities for increased efficiency and growth. Now more than ever, companies need IT professionals who are proficient in the technologies they deploy today and can help them plan strategically for the future.
We made a list of the 5 industry trends hiring managers need to know for recruiting IT talent in 2024 and beyond. Let’s dive in.
1. The use of AI in recruitment is skyrocketing — but beware of its limitations
Artificial intelligence (AI) will take center stage. Companies are already using this technology to streamline hiring, but it won’t be without challenges.
AI streamlines initial candidate screening by analyzing hundreds of resumes. Automation and AI chatbots speed up the hiring process and can even help with personality assessments. But AI isn’t good at ensuring a good culture fit for your team – at least not yet. In fact, 56% of candidates think a human should always make the final hiring decision.
AI has clear limits and can make mistakes. It can’t gauge the nuanced qualities that set candidates apart. Be on the lookout for ways to incorporate advanced tech, but remember that while AI is excellent with data, it still struggles with the human element.
2. Competition is fierce for top talent
The competition for top IT talent is rising. Why?
The technological landscape has transformed over the last year alone. To stay afloat, companies need a strategic roadmap for digital transformation. The need to incorporate new technology is becoming a critical differentiator for efficiency. The best IT professionals help organizations manage these transitions.
The constant tech evolution means increased demand for specialized skills. And with that growing demand, organizations are fighting to attract top-tier IT candidates.
Companies that need skilled IT professionals will need the right strategies to survive the IT talent shortage. Hiring managers need to understand what today’s candidates need and want to win the talent war.
3. The importance of soft skills continues to grow
The need for top talent with specialized technical skills is only one side of the coin. On the other side are the soft skills that take a candidate from qualified to a perfect fit. More than ever, hiring managers need to factor a range of soft skills into their hiring decisions.
Aim to find IT candidates with soft skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking and cross-team collaboration skills. These are the people you will need to understand and deploy new technologies – and train your organization to use them.
IT professionals are no longer in isolated roles; they are the people who dismantle organizational silos and promote collaboration. They are integral team members contributing to cross-functional projects.
These changes make the role of hiring managers highly strategic. They must now find people who demonstrate strengths in both technical and soft skills. And even the best technology can’t find the right culture fit – this part of the hiring decision is up to hiring managers.
4. The demand for hybrid roles is increasing
COVID-19 accelerated the shift to remote work, and today’s IT professionals demand flexibility. While some executives hoped this industry trend would fade, the majority of IT candidates are still looking for remote and hybrid roles.
Forbes reports that 98% of workers want to work remotely at least some of the time — and the IT sector leads as the top industry for remote work in 2023. This is likely because IT work is often digital.
Offering hybrid roles and flexibility can make companies more attractive to top talent. You’ll widen your talent pool and increase the chance of finding the best fit.
5. Rising salary expectations
As demand for top IT talent goes up, so will salary expectations. This puts companies and hiring managers in a tough spot. They have to balance tightening budgets while attracting and keeping the best talent.
Focus on finding the best candidates quickly, eliminating hiring bottlenecks that cause you to lose candidates to competitors. Companies with the most agile hiring process can snap up top candidates and avoid costly bidding wars.
Companies must also prepare to offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to secure top talent. As demand grows for skilled IT workers, those who are good know they’re valuable. Offering a flexible work schedule or hybrid role and understanding each candidate’s needs can help hiring managers with tight budgets.
The good news? When you make the right choice in an IT candidate, they’re worth their weight in gold.
How To Navigate These Trends
As a hiring manager you have a lot on your plate. To ease the burden, consider reaching out to an IT recruiting firm. You’ll speed up the hiring process, free up valuable time and save money.
With over 25 years of experience in recruiting and staffing, BravoTECH has honed its ability to find top talent for its clients, even when qualified candidates are scarce.
Our recruiters nurture relationships with top candidates nationwide, even those who are not actively seeking a new role.
We can help you avoid painful and costly hiring mistakes that can occur when competition for candidates is high. Moreover, we only send you qualified candidates who are pre-screened by experienced recruiters who understand your business.
This dramatically increases the chance of finding the right, long-term fit for your team.
We hope understanding these trends will improve your hiring success. If you’d like to discuss your hiring needs further, contact us at [email protected] or call 800-762-7286.
