The IT Talent Shortage is Real
ECLARO Hire Up Blog

July 23, 2018

The IT Talent Shortage is Real

Recently, we’ve seen tremendous growth of new technologies. Areas like machine learning, AI, data science, etc. have now become important skills in the business world.  Combine this with an unemployment rate of 1.9% for tech jobs, and more businesses face an IT skills gap–a shortfall between the supply of qualified IT professionals and the necessary IT skills.

Consider the following statistics:

  • 76% of hiring decision makers say attracting quality candidates is their #1 challenge
  • 75% of employers expect to hire more IT professionals this year than they did last year
  • 70% admit there is a clear lack of digital skills in their organizations today
  • 59% of IT leaders expect their firms to experience critical IT skills shortages over the next 12 months
  • 42% of employers are worried they won’t be able to find the talent they need
  • The average length of the job interview process in the US is 23.8 days
  • The research firm, Forrester, found that while 75% of businesses have a digital strategy, only 16% claim to have the skills to deliver it

The big challenge facing IT executives: address this skills gap while staying current with the ever-changing tech trends.  For any business, finding and keeping highly skilled employees and reducing hiring time are key components to increasing revenue and productivity. 

What steps are you taking to ensure you are able to hire and retain the IT talent needed to make your business successful?  In-house recruiting, training, and employee engagement initiatives?  Partnering with a consulting firm?  Something else?

 

 For full survey results –          Glassdoor HR & Recruiting Stats 2018

                                                CIO/IDG Race Towards Digital Business 2018

                                                Indeed Employer Outlook 2018

 

Eclaro provides IT recruiting & staffing services in the US and Canada, and global delivery services in the Philippines, and is equipped to help your company build high quality IT teams.  Let us help you solve the puzzle of finding the right IT talent.  

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Key Takeaways

  • Demand for Tech Skills Is Outpacing Supply
    The rapid growth of technologies like AI, machine learning, and data science has widened the gap between business needs and available IT talent.
  • Hiring Quality Candidates Is a Top Challenge
    A majority of hiring leaders report attracting skilled IT professionals as their #1 difficulty, with many expecting to hire more but struggling to find the right people.
  • Digital Skill Gaps Persist Across Organizations
    Many companies admit they lack essential digital capabilities internally, even as nearly all have digital strategies in place.
  • Talent Shortages Could Slow Growth
    With high demand and a limited candidate pool, organizations risk longer hiring cycles, higher turnover, and stalled project delivery without strategic talent planning.
  • Retention and Recruitment Strategies Matter
    Businesses must rethink how they attract, retain, and develop tech professionals—whether through upskilling, recruitment partnerships, or broader talent sourcing approaches.

 
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