- 48% of tech leaders feel the impact of skills gaps is more
apparent today compared to a year ago
- New report highlights factors contributing to the skills gaps,
tech leaders' top priorities, and strategies for building
future-forward tech teams
TORONTO, May 8, 2024
/CNW/ - Rapid change, evolving business priorities and the rise of
artificial intelligence (AI) have created a significant challenge
for today's tech leaders: critical skills gaps on their teams. This
is according to a new report, Building Future-Forward Tech
Teams, from talent solutions and business consulting firm
Robert Half. More than half of technology leaders surveyed (52 per
cent) said they have a skills gap within their department, and 48
per cent feel the skills gap has a greater impact today compared to
a year ago.
Skills Gaps Threaten Business
Priorities
According to the research, the top priorities for technology
leaders this year include:
- Security of IT systems and information
- AI, machine learning and automation initiatives
- Cloud projects
- Digital transformation projects
- Remote/hybrid work programs and technologies,
and ERP/CRM system implementation or improvements
A limited pool of available talent and significant technology
skills gaps could place these projects in peril and risk negatively
impacting business needs. Nearly all tech leaders (92 per cent)
report challenges finding skilled talent, and nearly six in 10 (58
per cent) predict a significant hiring challenge will be the lack
of applicants with the skill sets needed to support essential
initiatives.
"Having a vision and talent strategy in place to ensure you can
meet long-term business needs is critical", said Deborah Bottineau, managing director for
technology talent solutions at Robert Half. "Businesses require
thoughtful and deliberate hiring and retention strategies to
achieve goals amid ongoing technology skills gaps."
AI Brings Skills Gaps into
Focus
The need to solve skills gaps has accelerated with the emergence
of new AI capabilities. As shown in the report, 79 per cent of tech
leaders plan to implement initiatives involving AI this year, and
47 per cent cite a lack of staff with AI skills as the biggest
barrier to success. In fact, AI and machine learning topped the
list of skills where tech managers said gaps are most evident, with
more than half (52 per cent) reporting this for their
department.
Depending on their role in the company, the knowledge and
experience a technology professional may need to work effectively
with AI can include:
- Programming
- Data analysis and statistics
- Machine learning
- Software engineering
- Ethics and responsible AI
- Big data technologies
- Deep learning frameworks
- Computer vision
Building Future-Forward Tech Teams
To help hire, retain and advance high-performing tech teams,
Robert Half recommends the following strategies:
- Support upskilling. Implement programs that
encourage innovative thinking and ongoing learning, such as
cross-training initiatives and specialized training workshops, to
help prepare your employees and organization for the future.
- Seek and develop high-potential candidates. Focus
on recruiting technology candidates who have an eagerness to learn
new skills that support business priorities and offer training to
promising candidates with high potential even if they don't
currently meet all your desired criteria.
- Embrace a scalable talent model. Adopting a mix of
permanent, contract and consulting professionals can help bridge
skills gaps quickly and efficiently, allowing your team to access
professionals with specialized expertise, keep projects moving
forward and stay agile.
Bottineau added: "As the technology landscape continues to
evolve, technology professionals need to ensure they are growing
their skill sets too, continuing to develop their capabilities
alongside rapid change. Tech leaders need to provide training
opportunities and initiatives to ensure their teams and their
businesses remain as efficient and effective as possible."
About the Research
The data from the report is from a survey developed by Robert Half
and conducted by an independent research firm in October and
November 2023. The survey contains
responses from more than 180 technology leaders at the director
level or above at companies with 20 more employees in Canada.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the world's
first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects
opportunities at great companies with highly skilled job seekers.
Offering contract and permanent placement solutions in the fields
of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative,
legal, and administrative and customer support, Robert
Half has more than 300 locations worldwide. Robert
Half is the parent company of Protiviti®, a
global consulting firm that provides internal audit, risk, business
and technology consulting solutions. Robert Half, including
Protiviti, has been named to
the Fortune® Most Admired
Companies™. Explore our comprehensive solutions,
research and insights at RobertHalf.ca.
SOURCE Robert Half Canada Inc.