Top in-demand skills for the tech industry for 2024

The IT industry is constantly evolving. If you are not equipping yourself with new, in-demand skills, they you will soon become obsolete in this industry. In other words, if you are not updating yourself by learning new skills, chances are you will not grow in your career. In fact, without having in-demand skills, you will stop being in demand yourself.

The relevance of in-demand skills in the IT sector

Any IT business thrives on constantly developing resources across four categories. These are:

• Infrastructure.
• Software development.
• Data and analytics.
• Cybersecurity.

The in-demand skills in the industry fall under these four categories. These in-demand skills change almost annually or at least once in a couple of years.

Some key in-demand skills for 2024

For much of this year, and for 2025 too, these are some of the top in-demand skills in the IT industry:

1. Artificial intelligence (AI): There is absolutely no way anyone in IT can grow without learning, using, and refreshing their skills in AI. Over the next decade at least AI is likely to govern every single product and service that is likely to emerge from the IT sector. So, IT professionals must skill themselves with everything AI.
2. Machine learning (ML): Coming right after AI in the pecking order is ML. Even if you are not directly coding AI algorithms, if you are able to improve software applications with ML, you are going to be adding a lot of value to a business. So, if you know ML, companies will want to hire you.
3. Cloud computing: The world has been talking of and operating through cloud computing in the past decade. Therefore, it is not new skill. But without staying on top of cloud computing trends and upskilling oneself in that space, there is going to be no future for an IT professional. Cloud computing will only get bigger and more happening.
4. Technical support: With more and more of the world going digital, businesses worldwide are going to require technical support for infrastructure and service. IT professionals will do well to equip themselves well to understand and offer new ways of providing technical support.
5. Networking: Computer networks have changed at lot. And are still changing. Data travels fast and securely between continents and inside organization. All this is possible because of networks. Having a skill to build, manage, secure and redesign computing networks will continue to be in great demand going forward.
6. User experience: Since everyone is doing almost everything on a device these days it is imperative and companies provide a wholesome user experience to their customers and employees. The science of user experience will continue to make huge leaps. And IT folks who specialize in this space are going to be sought after. User experience is among the top in-demand skills to have.
7. Quality assurance: Businesses are paranoid about their applications and services being vulnerable in today’s digital world. They want stringent quality assurance processes in place. A seasoned professional with years of testing experience, and who has stayed relevant with constantly updating themselves, will be in great demand.
8. Data specialist: The internet is spewing about millions of gigabytes of data every second. All of this must be analyzed to convert it into decision-making capsules. How is data analyzed, how is it visualized, how is it presented – all of this is an area called data science. Further, because all this data is confidential, involves customer rights and privacy, and is competition-sensitive, securing their data is of prime importance for businesses. This field is called cybersecurity. Data specialists are both scientists and police-people. IT professionals can qualify to be both or even of them. This will give them an edge over others possessing in-demand skills in the market.
9. Information security: With mega IT businesses spanning the continents, several factors govern information security and their usage. Among these are local, regional, and national laws. IT professionals that specialize in laws that can help business operate seamlessly across the world are much sought after.

Conclusion

These in-demand skills are not one-time certifications to be added to anyone’s resume. With more experience being gained over time, these are skills that need to be developed or added on periodically. Importantly, having some or all of these in-demand skills make an IT professional a better leader and a more successful business manager. So, essentially, the professional goes beyond being just another IT sector employee. With acquiring key in-demand skills they begin to get offers where they can lead teams, or new product initiatives, or even companies.

It is also important to note that no specific engineering school or working at no specific IT company can teach anyone all these skills. Acquiring these in-demand skills requires being curious and a keenness to learn. This is what can transform your IT career from being that of an also-ran to being that of a game changer.