When LinkedIn makes a list of the most in-demand hard skills in today’s job postings, it should come as no surprise that two out of three top 10 skills are technology-related. More than ever, an IT background puts you on the right track for a successful career. But what are the most popular skills?

In just about every sector, companies rely on technology to drive the business. That’s why specialized IT professionals are highly sought-after in the job market, even in times of recession. According to the LinkedIn study, these are the IT skills organizations are most looking for (in no particular order):

1. Software developer

With the advance of Generative AI, developers sometimes wonder if there is still a future in their job. Indeed, an AI assistant can already write much of the code needed to develop an application. Yet it certainly does not look like we have anything to worry about. As society digitizes, the demand for developers increases every year. Not only can you get into almost any industry, most jobs also offer very attractive wages and lots of growth opportunities.

Moreover, that “dreaded” AI technology will make the work of developers even more interesting. Instead of writing and testing code all day, you can use AI to take care of the most repetitive and time-consuming tasks. The technology also helps identify bugs before they become a problem. This allows you as a developer to keep an eye on the quality of the developed app or software and ensure that the solution meets the expectations of the user.

2. Python & Java

Anyone pursuing a career in software development obviously needs to know at least one programming language. But what is the most popular language in the job market? Not surprisingly, both Python and Java are still in high demand. While Java ranks first in Europe, the language has been knocked off its throne by Python on an international level. Python has been around for a long time and was launched in 1991 by Dutchman Guido van Rossum. Today, the language is an important foundation for cutting-edge technologies such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data.

Do you speak Java instead of Python? No worries then, because this language is also highly rated as an IT skill and it can fall back on a solid community. Java is very versatile and useful for numerous purposes, from web and desktop applications or mobile apps to IoT devices.

On the front-end side, JavaScript knowledge is another skill that scores well. Of course, we should not confuse both languages. While Java must be compiled as a language, JavaScript is a scripting language that is interpreted directly. Or as Irish web designer Jeremy Keith once described it: “Java is to JavaScript as ham is to a hamster”.

3. Data analyst

Essentially, every modern company is a data company. To gather data and insights, organizations rely on data analysts and data scientists. Not only are these profiles currently extremely scarce, US statistics suggest that the demand for these professionals will increase by another 23% by 2031 – compared to 5% for an average job in the US.

Of course, data analytics is a broad term that encompasses a variety of skills. These include building algorithms (Machine Learning), programming, data management, data visualization, and … SQL.

4. SQL

When we talk about data and analytics, we certainly cannot forget SQL. Structured Query Language is a powerful tool that can communicate with specific databases and serve numerous applications. SQL may have experienced a slump a while ago, but the query language is all over the place today. It is included in most major data integration tools.

Especially for significant data analysis, you need this language. With it, you can query, update and delete specific pieces of data, and add new data as well. The speed of SQL is crucial to avoid bottlenecks and delays.

5. Cloud Computing Expert

Finally, as a company today, there is not much you can do without involving cloud technology. In both the aforementioned software and applications, as well as in data analysis, cloud plays a leading role as an alternative to traditional physical servers. The main public cloud providers are AWS (Amazon), Microsoft Azure, and GCP (Google). And with many companies switching to multi-cloud, being able to master more than one cloud platform is an asset.

Do you have one of these skills? Or do you possess another IT superpower? Then CHRLY Belgium has a job for you. Take a quick look at our vacancies and apply today!