Given the critical role information technology (IT) plays in driving modern businesses, it is almost ironical how companies have more openings in IT than professionals possessing the requisite skillsets to play those roles. A further dose of irony is seen in how, despite multiple openings available, there is intense competition for landing high-paying jobs.

Technology indeed dominates the best jobs or the most in-demand jobs available in. A professional possessing these skills, such as an artificial intelligence engineer, for instance, becomes a valuable potential employee and will be in high demand in the tech arena. In the tech and coding age, companies require employees who can take care of complex problems by leveraging their expertise. This is also why companies are putting in more efforts to recruiting, hiring, training, and developing the right talent, so that they can meet competition head on.

Employees who work to develop their technical skills will find themselves ahead in the race to land the most-sought-after jobs in the industry. Here are the top in-demand tech skills for them to focus on:

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)

Often confusing for novices, AI essentially allows machines to carry out routine tasks in a less mechanical and a smarter manner. ML is an application of AI, which allows computers to be able to use available data to complete a task more efficiently or take better decisions. According to the 2020 Emerging Jobs Report UK from LinkedIn, AI specialist was the top emerging job.

Companies find it hard to get people skilled in AI and ML on board, and are willing to pay high salaries to such professionals. A great way to get the requisite skills is to pick up an artificial intelligence certification, which proves to potential employers that the candidate has the latest skills and knowhow in the field, and is capable of taking on higher roles and more responsibilities.

Data science

Data science essentially looks at extracting useful strategic insights from the huge reserves of data in possession of companies across sectors and of all sizes. Data scientists use a mix of algorithms, ML principles, and different tools. They find application in a variety of sectors as diverse as banking, healthcare, and finance, enabling them to take decisions driven by data. Along with data analysis, data science professionals must also pick up skills in data visualization, as it is equally important to present the data to non-core professionals as well as the leadership team in a form they can comprehend.

DevOps

DevOps essentially brings together tools, cultural philosophies, and practices geared toward a shorter development life cycle while not making any compromises on security. This allows organizations to deliver applications and services in a shorter time frame. DevOps engineers are in high demand as companies have been successful in delivering high-quality applications and earned returns far higher than those who do not employ such professionals.

http://groupspaces.com/joeanderson/pages/top-6-must-have-tech-skills-for-2021