IT teams are a crucial business factor
As IT systems evolve, so does the number of employees who need to look after them. Although some technology companies have recently cut staff, data suggests that IT teams are still growing rapidly in general.
The Equinix 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey (GTTS) is an independent study commissioned by Equinix. It surveyed more than 2,900 IT decision-makers in various companies from around the world. This year's survey, in which IT executives from Switzerland also took part, discusses, among other things, what influence the further development of IT systems has on the size of IT teams. Specifically, the question was raised as to whether existing IT teams are capable of handling the new requirements. As IT systems become more complex, the threats they face also become more sophisticated. IT teams will need to improve their cybersecurity skills to protect the systems they manage. In short, the search for talent is intensifying.
The key findings of the GTTS 2023 regarding skilled workers are:
- Nearly two-thirds (66 %) of IT executives around the world expect to grow their technical teams in the next 12 months. In Switzerland, 60 % expect it.
- 57 % of IT decision makers said the size of their team has increased over the past two years. From Switzerland there were 46 %.
- Only 9 % of IT leaders expect their teams to shrink in the next 12 months. In Switzerland, there are 13 % after all.
- The survey shows that globally, IT technicians (53 %), cloud computing (40 %) and artificial intelligence/machine learning (37 %) are the top areas where new employees have been or will be hired. In Switzerland, the most important areas are: IT Technician (41 %), Data Protection (36 %) and Security Analyst (also 36 %).
- Conversely, IT executives are most likely to plan or have already made staff reductions in the focus areas of IT technicians (49 %), hardware engineering (25 %), and data analytics (24 %). In Switzerland, these are the areas of data analysis (37 %), compliance and IT technicians with 30 % each.
- Globally, the biggest skills challenge for the technology sector is the speed at which the technology industry is changing (45 % / 36% in Switzerland). Respondents also cited lack of available talent (36 % global and local each) and talent retention (36% global / 28 % in Switzerland) as challenges, followed by workforce expectations (33 % /. 34 % local) and people applying for jobs with the wrong qualifications (29 % /. even 35% in Switzerland).
- 82 % of global IT decision makers (73% in Switzerland) see improving cybersecurity as a top priority for their company's technology strategy. In this context, IT executives have already increased or plan to increase the number of security software developer positions (30 % / 25 % local), followed by jobs for security analysts (29 % / 36% in Switzerland) and safety engineers (26 % / 32 % local).
Roger Semprini, Managing Director Switzerland, Equinix, says: "The role of IT has changed from a back-end function to a critical business enabler. This has created an urgent need for IT professionals who not only have technical expertise, but also bring business acumen. Access to talent is now a critical issue in all industries and can even be a deciding factor in whether a company expands into a new market. HR organizations must be increasingly agile and growth-oriented in order to continuously provide dynamic solutions. A new approach to how we access and enable talent can be the competitive advantage."
Source: Equinix
