Robert Half Technology recently released data on expected 2016 technology hiring and compensation trends. With numerous jobs remaining unfilled, IT hiring in 2016 is expected to continue to be a relatively fierce market, favoring employees looking for new positions to further their technology careers. This follows the trend set over the past few years, with demand far outweighing supply.
Compensation is expected to increase in 2016, especially for specialized skills such as SharePoint, virtualization, Microsoft SQL Server and Cisco network administration, which are expected to increase between 8 and 9 percent. Development skills, such as .NET, PHP, Java and C# are expected to increase 8 to 9 percent next year. IT certifications that are expected to be hot in 2016 include Cisco – CCNA, CCNP, Microsoft – MCP, MCITP, project management – PMP, security – CISSP, and virtualization – VCP.
Another long-term trend that will continue in 2016 is the demand for IT candidates to have more than just technology skills. IT departments are no longer isolated and must position themselves as a vital, integrated unit within the business. As such, employers are looking for candidates who have good communication skills – technical and non-technical, strong problem-solving abilities, a collaborative mindset, a team-oriented approach, and solid creative-thinking capabilities.
In this slideshow, we’ve featured the top technology positions Robert Half Technologies has identified as being most in-demand for each region of the U.S in 2016.
Top IT Jobs by Region
Click through for the top technology positions Robert Half Technologies has identified as being most in-demand for each region of the U.S in 2016.
Pacific
Health care, technology, construction, real estate and financial services are some of the fastest-growing industries in the Pacific region, which includes Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska and Hawaii. Top in-demand IT roles for this area include web developer, software engineer, help desk specialist, JavaScript developer and network engineer.
Mountain
The Mountain region, which encompasses Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, is expected to have high demand for .NET developers, JavaScript developers, help desk specialists, database administrators and network administrators. Hot industries in this region include health care, construction, manufacturing, real estate and technology.
West South Central
The fastest-growing industries in the West South Central region include health care, manufacturing, financial service, oil & gas/energy and technology. This region includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Texas in particular has seen rapid development in technology-related jobs over recent years. Hot jobs in the West South Central region for 2016 are expected to include .NET developers, systems engineers, network engineers, database administrators and help desk specialists.
West North Central
Financial services, manufacturing, health care and professional services and services are some of the fastest-growing industries in the West North Central region, which includes North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. Top in-demand IT roles for this area include C# developers, Java developers, network security administrators, information systems security managers and systems administrators.
East North Central
The East North Central region, which encompasses Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, is expected to have high demand for web developers, programmer analysts, system administrators, help desk specialists and software engineers. Hot industries in this region include manufacturing, health care, financial services and professional services.
East South Central
The fastest-growing industries in the West South Central region include health care, manufacturing, financial service and transportation. This region includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Hot jobs in the East South Central region for 2016 are expected to include .NET developers, Java developers, front-end web developers, help desk specialists and network administrators.
New England
Health care, technology, manufacturing and financial services are some of the fastest-growing industries in the New England region, which includes Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Top in-demand IT roles for this area include network engineers, help desk specialists, .NET developers, web developers and software engineers.
Middle Atlantic
The Middle Atlantic region, which encompasses New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, is expected to have high demand for front-end web developers, desktop support analysts, help desk specialists, developer/programmer analysts and database developers. Hot industries in this region include financial services, health care, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and nonprofit organizations.
South Atlantic
The fastest-growing industries in the South Atlantic region include health care, real estate, financial services and construction. This region includes West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Hot jobs in the South Atlantic region for 2016 are expected to include web developers, .NET developers, systems administrators, help desk specialists and software engineers.
