Why the US needs more IT professionals

Yesterday was a day of historical and national significance to the United States of America – Independence Day – a day which marks the nation’s independence from Great Britain. Since the Declaration of Independence was adopted 240 years ago, Americans have celebrated their country’s independence with fireworks, parades, concerts and family gatherings.

If you’re an IT professional interested in working in the US, you also have reason to celebrate. The U.S. technology industry employs more than 6.7 million people and with growing trends in emerging technologies such as cloud, big data and the Internet of Things (IoT), employment levels are continuing to rise.

Due to the pace in which new technologies have been adopted, the U.S. is experiencing skills shortages in many IT disciplines including development, information security and data.

In the development space, employers are looking for more Java developers and .NET/C# developers. The demand for the former is heightened by the project-based nature of the market.

Security is another area seeking new talent. In particular, there is a demand for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to help companies plan how security can be incorporated into project delivery from start to finish. With more and more high-profile hacks happening across both private and public sectors, businesses across all industries are realising the importance of securing their systems and data. Just last month, the Pentagon released the findings of a pilot hacking project, ‘Hack the Pentagon’, which invited hackers to identify weaknesses within Defense Department public websites. More than 1,400 people took part, identifying a total of 138 vulnerabilities.

As the IoT continues to spread its influence, consumers are demanding more from online products and services. As a result, employers are looking for UI/UX front-end developers to ensure their business is offering its customers a pleasing online experience.

In an increasingly competitive market, employers across multiple industries are seeing the value that data can offer their business. Whether it is to assess the internal workings of an organisation and create more lean processes or to better understand the needs of customers and create more targeted marketing, employers in the U.S. want more computer analysts.

To meet the demand across these IT disciplines, U.S employers aren’t just looking for candidates in America, instead, they are welcoming applications from IT professionals around the world, including Britain, India and Australia. Due to the skill shortage areas within IT, employers in the U.S. are having to broaden their search for skilled IT professionals. The increasing convergence of the IT and Telecoms market means that IT skillsets are now highly sought after by businesses that were previously considered as traditional telecoms companies. The Dallas region is a particular hotspot for recruitment as the vibrant city continues to be a preferred location for business headquarters, with the likes of Toyota and Liberty Mutual keen to set up shop here.

Whether you’re interested in permanent jobs or contract opportunities, there are ample opportunities across a range of IT disciplines.