Top 5 in-demand skills in the IT job market

Driven by digital transformation, automation, and new technologies, the IT job market could be considered volatile yet fruitful. The shift in IT skills needed generates exciting opportunities, but with that comes challenges - a talent shortage. Globally, companies are struggling to source professionals with the latest expertise to spearhead business growth and secure sustainable success. 

Whether faced with malicious cyber security threats or leveraging AI-powered automation, organisations want IT professionals who can demonstrate adaptability and ingenuity. It’s clear new skills are essential, but which are in the highest demand? 

Our insightful guide explores the top 5 in-demand skills key to thriving in the IT job market. 

Skills shortage impacting IT jobs

While digital transformation is largely positive, the pace of changes has consequences for businesses and jobs alike in the IT industry and other digital disciplines. 
 
 The prime one is that it has resulted in a skills gap. In the wake of technological developments, companies struggle to find expertise in cybersecurity, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and software development. While new technologies demand new skills, there are other factors contributing to the talent shortage: 

• Lack of specialised training: An outdated educational system doesn’t prepare students with the tools or experience to succeed in digitally-dominated sectors.
• Global competition: The skills shortage isn’t isolated to the United Kingdom; it’s a global problem. By 2026, 90% of organisations worldwide will be impacted by the IT skills shortage, leading to a forecasted $5.5 trillion in losses, according to an IDC survey.
• Changing job roles: An evolving industry means evolving job descriptions. IT skills alone are not enough - especially not traditional ones. Instead, individuals must have a blend of skills, including strong business acumen. 

Top 5 IT skills in demand 

As companies try to match the speed at which the IT industry changes to remain competitive, the demand for professionals with specific skills soars. For example, many businesses depend on AWS and Azure, meaning proficiency in cloud computing is sought after. 

Cyber threats are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated, which emphasises the need for individuals with cyber security skills. By the end of 2025, cyber crime is projected to cost $10.5 trillion annually. 

Data-driven decision-making is central to companies’ success. Therefore, strong data analysis skills, along with familiarity with tools like Python, R, and SQL, are integral. 

Artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to be prevalent across several sectors. Ignoring this technology’s role and importance is detrimental to companies and professionals. 

Software development and DevOps skills are essential. Firms regularly seek developers who can confidently use the latest programming languages and agile methodologies to refine software development and delivery. 

Let’s discuss the skills that are in demand in further detail: 

Cloud computing 

How businesses operate and how individuals store, manage, and process data has been transformed by cloud computing. Scalability and flexibility are key for companies’ development. Platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) cost-effectively achieve this. Here’s an overview of the importance of cloud platforms: 

Scalability and flexibility 

A key advantage of having employees adept with cloud computing is that your business can manage its IT resources without impeding infrastructure. Other benefits include: 

• On-demand resource allocation: With cloud computing, businesses can increase or decrease computing resources, like processing power and bandwidth, as needed. This is especially useful for companies dealing with traffic surges.
• Cost efficiency: Cloud-based solutions mean businesses can avoid expensive upfront costs as they only pay for resources they use. This model allows companies to optimise their spending. 
• Performance: Even during peak times, businesses can ensure consistent performance because cloud platforms distribute workloads across several servers and data centres. 
• Agility: Businesses can roll out new applications and services to respond to market changes and meet customer demands. 
• Disaster recovery and reliability: Cloud providers deliver redundancy and backup solutions to guarantee business continuity during unexpected failures. Scalability enables businesses to recover swiftly by reallocating resources without causing significant disruptions.

Security and compliance 

Security and compliance are non-negotiables for businesses using cloud services. Cloud providers have designed stringent security measures for data protection and regulatory compliance. However, IT professionals are still required to implement these tools to ensure: 

• Data encryption: End-to-end data encryption for data at rest and in transit is essential. Encryption safeguards sensitive information from unauthorised access. 
• Access control and identity management: The integration of advanced access control mechanisms like authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), and single sign-on (SSO) gives companies better management of data and systems. 
• Regulatory compliance: Organisations must meet legal and industry-specific requirements. For example, businesses operating within the EU must adhere to GDPR, healthcare institutions using cloud services must comply with HIPAA, and fintech firms must use SOC 2’s framework. 

Global accessibility and collaboration 

In today’s interconnected world, the facilitation of global accessibility and collaboration is vital. By storing data and applications in the cloud, companies can work from anywhere at any time. Below’s an overview of cloud computing’s impact on collaboration: 

• Remote work: As long as there’s an internet connection, employees can access applications, data, and resources from any location. 
• Real-time collaboration: Cloud platforms have features like live document editing, instant messaging, video conferencing, and shared virtual workspaces, making it easy for team members to work together seamlessly. 

Cyber security 

Cyber threats continue to grow in complexity and scale. Businesses, governments, and individuals rely on digital systems. As a result, IT professionals with cyber security aptitude are in high demand. The following points demonstrate the importance of these skills: 

Increase in cyber attacks 

Cyber attacks like ransomware, phishing, and data breaches have amplified with technology’s advancement. These attacks don’t discriminate; they pose a problem to businesses of all sizes. These stats give an insight into the scale of the issue: 

Ransomware 

• In the last five years, ransomware attacks have risen by 13%. 
• By 2031, it’s predicted that there will be a ransomware attack every two seconds. 
• Ransomware is forecast to cost victims an estimated $265 billion annually by 2031. 

Phishing 

• Almost 70% of phishing attacks use AI, which makes them more dangerous and difficult to detect. 
• According to GreatHorn, 57% of businesses face daily or weekly phishing attempts. 
• Businesses lose $17,700 per minute because of phishing attacks. 

Data breaches 

• As of January 2025, a total of 22.9 billion accounts have been breached since 2024. This has affected roughly 8.3 billion email addresses. 
• On average, a single email address is breached around 3 times. 
• Nearly 90% of data breaches involve the use of stolen credentials. 

Data analysis and big data

Digital proficiency is dependent on data. Businesses rely on data-driven insights to make informed decisions. Consequently, data science and big data analytics are considered to be valuable skills in the IT job market. Whether in finance, healthcare, marketing, or technology, professionals with strong analytical skills are highly regarded. 

Massive data generation 

Businesses generate petabytes of data. From social media interactions to online purchases, this type of data can fuel business decisions. Extracting this information and taking action requires skilled IT professionals. Each day, companies collect:

• Social media data: Billions of posts, likes, shares, and comments help businesses understand consumer behaviour. 
• IoT device data: Smart devices and connected systems produce actionable real-time data. 

The need for talented Data Analysts 

Raw data alone is worthless without proper analysis. Experienced and expert Data Analysts are needed to: 

• Clean and structure data: Ensure data is accurate and usable. 
• Find patterns and trends: Studying customer behaviour, sales trends, and business efficiency. 
• Data-driven decisions: Help businesses enhance strategies, optimise supply chains, and deliver a better customer experience. 

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI and ML)

AI and ML are transforming industries with their near-limitless capabilities. As these technologies advance, companies seek IT professionals who can harness them to drive their organisations' success. Here’s why this tech is so important: 

Automation and efficiency 

By dealing with repetitive tasks, AI-enabled automation helps businesses innovate and improve overall success. Here’s how: 

Cost reduction 

One of AI’s main advantages is automating repetitive and arduous tasks. These stats illustrate how its application can cut costs: 

• Companies that invest in automation report around 37% reduction in process costs, with an average of 22% savings across industries. 
• With automation, businesses can achieve an ROI of 240% (Symtrax), recouping their investment within six to nine months. 
• Automating can reduce the cost per task by up to 30%. 

Improved accuracy, reduced human error 

AI and ML models can process huge amounts at a quicker rate and with more precision than humans. 

Software development and DevOps

Mobile apps, web platforms, cloud computing, and AI all need software development to support their growth. As discussed, businesses are embracing automation and cloud-native applications. Therefore, developers with knowledge of modern programming languages and DevOps methodologies are key to success. 

Blockchain and security 

Blockchain technology can deliver secure, transparent and decentralised solutions. Its immutable nature has many benefits that are valuable to the IT industry. Developers with blockchain expertise are needed to: 

• Build decentralised apps (dApps) which function on blockchain networks. 
• Integrate blockchain solutions for secure transactions and data verification. 
• Ensure robust cyber security measures in distributed ledger systems. 

Microservices

IT professionals familiar with microservices architecture are at the forefront of reshaping how software is developed, deployed and maintained. By employing such individuals, companies can: 

• Accelerate development cycles and have products on the market ahead of competitors. 
• Improve maintainability by allowing individual microservices to be updated or replaced without impacting entire systems. 
• Maximise resource efficiency by scaling each service independently according to demand. 

Continuous delivery and DevOps practices

Integrating software development and IT operations is crucial for companies that want rapid innovation. Skilled DevOps professionals ensure apps are delivered faster and with higher quality by: 

• Automating the development pipeline (CI/CD) to simplify testing, integration, and deployment. 
• Monitoring system performance and resolving issues proactively before they affect end-users. 
• Collaborating across teams to break down silos between development and operations, resulting in more efficient workflows and quicker release cycles.

Final say: top 5 in-demand skills in the IT job market

IT skills that are needed for today’s jobs have shifted. And with professionals who are equipped with the latest knowledge in short supply, competition for these individuals is intense. Businesses must embrace technological advancements, and more importantly, embrace those who are adept with important digital disciplines like cloud computing, cyber security, data analysis, AI, and software development. 

Companies and individuals have an obligation to continually develop their skills and knowledge in these vital digital fields. If they don’t, like the technology that came before what’s leading the way today, they might become obsolete. 
 
 Whatever the motivation, it’s critical to invest in the skills outlined in our guide. It can provide exciting career opportunities and future-proof your business in an environment that’s infamously unpredictable. 

Leaders in IT recruitment 

Are you looking for your next opportunity in the IT job market? Finding a new career in the IT industry can be difficult - without the right support. At Sellick Partnership, our specialist team has experience and empathy to deliver a results-driven and personal experience for your job search. 

Want to find out more? Visit our dedicated IT recruitment page or connect with a team member today.