IT, security jobs in demand through 2029: report

Dive Brief:

Information security analysts, software developers, and computer and information research scientists top the list of IT and computer-related occupations expected to see demand grow between 2019 and 2029, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The bureau created two scenarios, in addition to its baseline growth predictions, which consider what long-term economic changes will result from the pandemic. Employment of information security analysts will grow between 31% and 43%, according to the projections.
In the high-demand field of software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers, growth through 2029 is expected to range between 21% and 26%.

Dive Insight:

The talent demands straining the tight tech labor market accelerated in 2020 as businesses required more agility and speed from their digital systems.

Analysts expect remote work to carry on for half of the workforce at least some of the time. Companies also expect their systems to support a hybrid work environment, operating efficiently with help from productivity and collaboration software.

"A rise in telework, particularly for companies that did not offer telecommuting before the pandemic, should boost demand for software, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity," the BLS report predicts.

The pandemic was "essentially a five-year acceleration in what we've been seeing in flexible work," said Lisa Walker, VP of brand and workforce futurist at Fuze. Organizations interested in attracting top talent will prioritize worker flexibility, which includes location, according to Walker.

With more demand across industries, companies will continue to struggle to acquire sufficient talent to create and maintain critical technology. But it's unclear where the necessary talent will come from.

One workaround businesses are exploring is to devote resources to upskilling their existing workforce, often with large financial investments and higher-education organizations as partners.

Companies are also rethinking what each role entails, with 72% of companies saying they readjusted roles or responsibilities of up to half of their workforce to meet growing demand for internal talent, according to data from iCIMS.

But as remote work becomes standard for organizations, leaders can tap into talent pools across the country. Location becomes less of a factor in the business's ability to hire.