The 5 Toughest Skills for Hire For, According to the C-Suite

In a landscape marked by economic uncertainty, the lingering effects of a global pandemic, and the swift evolution of technology, industries across the board are faced with profound disruption — and the tech sector is no different. 

According to Skillsoft’s latest report, The C-Suite Perspective, 71% of executives say skill gaps are present within their organization, and nearly 62% anticipate more skills gaps to arise in the next 1 to 2 years.

There is a combination of challenges driving this skilling struggle. Namely, it’s hard to hire candidates with the right skills; the rate of technological change exceeds skills training; and it’s difficult to attract candidates with the right skills. 

Want to read the full report? Download it here → 

However, amidst these challenges lies opportunity for those willing to seize it. Forward-thinking leaders are not merely overcoming these obstacles — they are actively seeking out avenues for growth and innovation — and that requires reskilling and upskilling their workforce.

The modern workforce is constantly evolving, and so are the skills that employees and organizations need to be successful. As we embrace new technologies like generative AI and adapt to emerging business needs like ESG, the ways in which we learn, what we learn, and ultimately how we work, is being redefined and reimagined.

That means, the companies that invest in their people are the ones investing in their future. According to McKinsey, the most effective organizations provide an average of 75 hours of training per employee annually. In return, they see higher promotion rates and achieve higher employee retention rates compared with companies that don’t heavily invest in learning.

However, while organizations look to learning programs as a way to overcome the skilling struggle, it’s challenging to know which skills tech professionals should invest in — and why.

Let’s take a look at the top five skills that tech leaders are struggling to hire for, as cited in our C-Suite Perspective report, and why these skills are also their top investment areas looking forward.

According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, 95% of organizations have experienced more than one data breach, costing an average of $4.45 million.

Tech leaders know the value of cybersecurity skills, given the weight and cost of data breaches. The problem is — per the C-suite leaders we surveyed in our report — the number one area where they have the greatest difficulty hiring is cybersecurity and information security (38%), much of which stems from a workforce without necessary skills and certifications. 

In fact, it sometimes seems that tech’s bad actors are always a step ahead as tech leaders struggle to feel they have the proper security teams and protections in place to stop adversaries before they achieve their goals. As technology evolves, so do the tactics of cybercriminals, necessitating a constant need for skilled professionals who can anticipate, detect, and mitigate these threats. 

Moreover, with regulations like GDPR and CCPA placing stringent requirements on data protection and privacy, businesses will continue to be compelled to invest in cybersecurity professionals who can safeguard against emerging threats, ensure compliance, and uphold trust for today and tomorrow.

Interested in cybersecurity? Check out our Cybersecurity Career Journey

The demand for AI and machine learning skills has fluctuated for decades, however, with the recent technological breakthroughs, generative AI has emerged as one of the hottest commodities in the tech space. 

Per Forrester’s Artificial Intelligence Pulse Survey, 89% of AI decision-makers say their organization is expanding, experimenting with, or exploring the use of generative AI.  Given this surge in demand, it’s no surprise AI and machine learning skills ranks as the number two most difficult area for tech leaders to hire (32%).

As Forrester asserts, “The best technology solutions can’t overcome a fundamental lack of skills, inclinations, beliefs, and resources in the workforce.” 

Our data only reinforces this. When it comes to AI, just 24% of our respondents rate their organization’s skills in this area as somewhat high to high while more than 75% of respondents are not that confident. 

For AI use to grow within an organization, its employees must be skilled, reskilled, or upskilled to maximize its full potential. Since generative AI is a subset of machine learning, its skill base comes from many existing skillsets such as data science and data engineering, but it also includes newer skills like prompt engineering and Natural Language Processing (NLP) as well as AI ethics, model curating, and training.

Interested in AI and machine learning? Get our list of top AI courses

Analytics, big data, and data science have expanded to nearly all corners of business operations. By leveraging big data technologies and employing analytics and data science methodologies, companies can uncover patterns, trends, and correlations that inform strategic decisions, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation. 

While analytics, big data, and data science have been around for decades, 25% of tech leaders still report their workforces have skills gaps in these areas, and 30% say it’s a priority to invest in for their organization. 

That’s because data scientists possess the expertise to extract meaningful insights from vast datasets using advanced analytical techniques and machine learning algorithms. These insights help businesses across a variety of use cases, whether it’s to personalize customer experiences, optimize supply chains, or employ predictive maintenance and risk management — just to name a few. Skilled business analysts and data scientists who can interpret and harness data are crucial for organizations to innovate and stay ahead in the market. 

Interested in data science? Discover some of our courses

Cloud computing has remained a cornerstone of business operations since its emergence, underpinning the digital transformation journey of organizations across every industry.

Since cloud computing combines elements of both managing data and protecting that data from cybersecurity threats, the combination of these skills is highly in demand. In fact, according to our IT Skills and Salary Report, 82% of decision-makers say the demand for cloud computing skills is increasing within their organizations. 

One-quarter of tech leaders reported having critical skill gaps in cloud computing, and 22% maintain cloud as a top investment area for their organization.

As industries continue to migrate towards digital transformation and remote work trends persist, the demand for professionals skilled in cloud computing — from cloud architects and engineers to cybersecurity specialists and DevOps professionals — will remain high.

Interested in cloud computing? Explore our Cloud Career Journey

As businesses increasingly rely on software solutions to streamline operations, engage customers, and drive growth, there is a growing need for skilled developers who can create, maintain, and enhance these applications. Unfortunately, according to the C-Suite Perspective, 21% of tech leaders find application development skills one of the hardest to hire.

Developers proficient in programming languages like Java, Python, JavaScript, and frameworks such as React, Angular, and Node.js are highly sought after for their ability to build scalable, responsive, and user-friendly applications. Additionally, proficiency in agile development methodologies and DevOps practices is crucial for ensuring rapid deployment, continuous integration, and collaboration across development teams.

Interested in application development? See how Skillsoft’s Codecademy enhances core coding skills

Technology will only continue to evolve, which means the reskilling and upskilling tech workforces remains the bedrock of sustained success. Organizations need to be cognizant of their skill needs, and evaluate their upskilling, reskilling and recruiting efforts as the global talent pools shift around a never-stopping growth rate.

Embracing emerging tools and paradigms and continually updating skill sets will position tech teams to lead, create, and thrive in a future that demands expertise and the ability to embrace change with enthusiasm.

Want to read the full C-Suite Perspective report? Download it here