The 10 most in-demand jobs in AI technology recruitment

Our workforce is transforming at rapid speed! Here are the technologies you need to know to stay competitive:

If you ever thought that downloading your thoughts directly into a microchip was a far-fetched idea, maybe you haven’t been listening closely enough to what’s been brewing in the tech world. Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, is currently developing brain-machine interfaces with the goal of creating a true symbiosis between our brains and computers. Suffice to say, coders, data scientists, and other technology specialists are going to be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

As a recruiter, knowing the supply and demand for any type of professional is crucial. Moreover, the ability to anticipate demand for new kinds of specialists is also incredibly important. Here are the ten most in-demand technology specialists right now:

1. Title: Data Scientist

What they do: The data science field is incredibly varied and complex, but to put it simply, a Data Scientist examines a company’s data – huge amounts of information – and attempts to identify important trends. In order for a company to employ machine learning (AI) they need to understand how to manipulate their own data. It’s a relatively new field, but perhaps one of the most talked about over the past few years.

Why they’re in demand: It’s not just technology companies that are hiring Data Scientists. Businesses of all kinds including major beauty retailers and food production companies are hiring these specialists in order to make better predictions and decisions based on hard data.

2. Title: Mobile App Developer

What they do: Mobile developers specialize in creating software for mobile technology. Some of them specialize in developing apps for Android, and others for iOS (Apple) specifically. It’s a rather new field, and many Mobile App Developers are recent graduates with computer science and other software-related degrees.

Why they’re in demand: There’s currently a popular expression that explains why Mobile App Developers are in hot demand: “There’s an app for that”. In a world where almost every good and service can be commoditized and consumed via app, it’s no wonder App Developers are getting so much work.

3.Title: Cloud Engineer

What they do: By definition, Cloud Computing is “the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.” Cloud Engineering is a broad field, and it can include roles such as Cloud Architect, Cloud Software Engineer, and Cloud Network Engineer. The roles might be different, but each type of Cloud Engineer is responsible for various aspects of Cloud Computing. 

Why they’re in demand: Many companies use or sell their cloud services – for example, retail point of sale companies. Rather than the retailer buy a server to host their sales information, they can use a cloud-based point of sale that houses all of their sales and inventory data on the Internet – making it accessible from anywhere. As this type of software is incredibly ubiquitous for many businesses, it's no surprise why companies are looking to hire Cloud Engineers.

4.Title: Cybersecurity Specialist

What they do: A Cybersecurity Specialist (or Engineer) is in charge of protecting a company’s computer information. They must look for possible risks or areas where information can be leaked, and any other system vulnerabilities. Like security guards who stand at a gate to protect a building from terrorists or thieves, Cybersecurity Specialists prevent attacks from cyber criminals.

Why they’re in demand: Because of the now constant threat of cyber crime, companies and institutions must take every possible measure to keep their sensitive and/or valuable information secure by employing a Cybersecurity Specialist.

5.Title: DevOps Engineer

What they do: The title “DevOps” is a hybrid of “developer” and “operations”. These specialists are the bridge between a company’s developers (those who write software code) and IT experts. They are essential for improving collaboration between departments and work to streamline various software integrations.

Why they’re in demand: According to one report, DevOps skills are highly-sought after due to their impressive results. They can greatly improve a department’s functionality, and deploy code quickly and efficiently.

6. Title: Hardware Engineer

What they do: Designing circuits, testing processors, and developing computer components such as routers and memory devices are all parts of a Hardware Engineer’s world. These engineers develop all of the physical aspects of devices, and are crucial for advancing computer technology.

Why they’re in demand: Though it seems software is evolving much more quickly than hardware, employment for Hardware Engineers is still growing steadily. Emerging technologies such as 3D printing and other hardware trends require these specialized engineers.

7. Title: Full-Stack Developer

What they do: A Full-Stack Developer that has knowledge of both back-end and front-end development, and are sometimes considered to be jacks of all trades when it comes to writing website or app code.

Why they’re in demand: These kinds of developers have a crucial understanding of various aspects of development such as servers, hosting, networks, and User Experience design. Some companies seem to be moving away from siloed back-end and front-end development teams, and towards hiring Full-Stack developers that can work on all levels of the process.

8. Title: Enterprise Architect

What they do: An Enterprise Architect, or EA, plays a sort of unifier role, as they must integrate business strategies and various IT projects. They work with management to help develop an overall big-picture tech strategy across many departments.

Why they’re in demand: EAs are highly specialized, and in America specifically, the demand for Enterprise Architects has been growing faster than any other technology skillset due to a need for people who understand the complexities of how technologies are being implemented across the board.

9. Title: Chief Technology Officer

What they do: Chief Technology Officers, or CTOs, often have a strong engineering-level understanding of software development and various information technologies. These executives must have the management and leadership skills in order to ensure that the company’s goals align with their tech strategy. 

Why they’re in demand: Specialists with hard IT skills as well as executive-level management aptitudes and people skills aren’t necessarily in large supply. Many companies are looking to hire CTOs with knowledge of emerging technologies as well as a decade of management experience – posing quite a challenge for recruiters and hiring managers.

10. Title: Chief Information Officer

What they do: A Chief Information Officer, or CIO, oversees an organization’s internal IT operations, and acts as a business-technology leader. Unlike a CTO, the CIO has a strong knowledge of computer science and understands the impact technology has on a company, but isn’t necessarily a skilled developer or niche IT specialist. Their role essentially revolves around infrastructure and creating efficiencies from an operations perspective.

Why they’re in demand: Due to the dramatically increased use of IT and computer tech in many businesses in a wide range of industries, more and more CIOs are needed to fill these executive roles.

The sheer number of tech startups in Canadian cities and our growing reliance on technology is a good indicator that the need for AI, IT, and other tech specialists is not going to decrease any time soon – if ever. Unless a vastly greater number of young students choose to pursue STEM careers, there will continue to be more demand than supply of these highly sought-after professionals with advanced skills. This reality certainly gives hiring managers and recruiters a challenge... and perhaps give the next generation a real incentive when choosing their career!