In this article, Adzuna’s chief customer officer Paul Lewis shares the latest findings of the hottest jobs in the tech industry in 2023.
The year 2023 started as a challenging year for many businesses and job seekers in tech. First, we saw a sweeping round of layoffs in high-profile tech companies, then a wake-up call by OpenAI’s cutting-edge chatbot ChatGPT suggesting that artificial intelligence is coming for some tech jobs. For businesses, Fed chair Powell has shown no sign of stopping interest rate hikes, and the most recent earnings reports indicated that many S&P 500 companies in tech are underperforming.Â
To tech workers and businesses, it might seem like the industry has a long way to go to regain its mojo. The silver lining here is that the overall job market in the US is proving resilient despite high inflation, with nonfarm payroll results exceeding market expectations in February and the unshaken fact: technology is the future.
Because of recent events, we analyzed 17.9 million US jobs advertised on AdzunaOpens a new window in January 2023 to reveal the most in-demand roles available in today’s jobs market. Tech professionals who were recently let go, here are five of the hottest tech roles in 2023:
1. Software Developer
In an increasingly automated world, software developers are the most in-demand tech role in 2023. There are 171,913 jobs nationwide, with an average salary of $131,398.
It could then seem odd to find out that many software developers were on the layoff list, too, during the recent big tech culls because job cuts usually give off the impression that the axed jobs are obsolete and dispensable. However, from today’s vantage point, it’s clear this is not true for software developers. Instead, we see this as an outcry among companies over business growth that wasn’t meeting expectations against high inflation and spiraling costs and their frustration over the widening skills gaps. The hiring spotlight on software developers reflects that organizations are still committed to investing in software developers. They need new blood and ideas to steer through the uncertain times and future-proof their business. Â
Software developer hiring is poised to dominate not only in 2023 but throughout this decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsOpens a new window projected that the demand for software developers will increase by 26% between 2021 and 2031, five times higher than the expected growth rate of all occupations (5%).
Fuelled by the pandemic, the software is integral to nearly all industries nowadays, not exclusive to the tech industry. Marketers need software developers to build digital channels and data-driven solutions to attract better and retain customers. Retailers need software developers to create and maintain e-commerce marketplaces and mobile applications. In finance, software developers are needed to design, test, and maintain financial models and systems.
The emergence of ChatGPT this year further cements the place of software developers, among other jobs in the near future. Projects related to AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and other automation applications are at the top of the agenda in many tech companies, creating an ongoing need for acquiring top-notch software developers.
See More: Software Developer vs. Software Engineer: Top 10 Differences
2. ICT System Developer/Architect
Opportunities for ICT system-related roles (Information and Communications Technology) are aplenty. There were 25,353 job openings for ICT System Developers in January and 14,372 opportunities for ICT System Architects.Â
As technology has been integrated into our lives and with the rise of hybrid working and remote working, businesses need ICT system talent to keep their daily operations onsite and offsite running smoothly. ICT system developers monitor, maintain, troubleshoot, and integrate organizational core systems infrastructure and support systems, such as desktops, hardware, software, Internet, databases, and security systems.
See More: What Is the Difference between System Engineering and System Architecture?
3. Product Manager
A product manager is one of the few roles in tech where coding expertise is usually just a bonus. Nonetheless, they’re very sought-after and often referred to as jack-of-all-trades.Â
In January, there were 19,195 job openings for product managers, with advertised salaries averaging $125,562. The high demand for product managers stems from their duality: Good product managers have the solid technical knowledge to communicate easily with the developers. They are also business-savvy, enabling them to understand customers’ needs and effectively collaborate with other departments, such as sales and marketing.Â
Their expertise in testing products or services, identifying any concerns, and solving pain points is attractive to most businesses nowadays, as many are seeking ways to cope with the fluctuating needs of the markets.
4. Data Analyst
As data is becoming the modern currency for businesses, the role of a data analyst is unquestionably one of the most coveted jobs in 2023. There were 14,093 jobs up for grabs in January, a +41% year-on-year increase. Similar roles such as data engineer (12,948 jobs) and data scientists (11,365 jobs) are also in top demand. These data-centric roles are all very financially rewarding, with advertised salaries ranging from $87,227 to $148,616.Â
Between data analysts, data engineers, and data scientists, the role of data analysts is the least technical. Primary duties include running queries on a database, analyzing and interpreting data, and presenting and explaining the results to others with different backgrounds. In contrast, good storytelling is not key to data engineers’ success, but they are the backbone of the data team. They are responsible for designing, implementing, and managing data-streaming systems. Data scientists link data analysts and data engineers, as their duties overlap with the other two. They could be caught solving data problems, building data pipelines, and creating algorithms.Â
The demand for data analysts, data engineers, and data scientists is unlikely to cool down. Even though organizations collect our data day and night, they can only use a tiny percentage of it because there’s too much data to work on or they lack the expertise to unlock all the potential. As we enter an era celebrating data and technology, businesses always need data-centric specialists to back up their strategies and decision-making processes.
See More: Data Analytics Jobs, Degrees, and Salary
5. Energy EngineerÂ
Cleantech, short for clean technology, is an emerging topic this year. In light of global warming and climate change, more people are looking for ways to develop technologies that can be adapted to have less of a negative impact on our planet. For example, how to revolutionize traditionally harmful industries with solutions that minimize their environmental impact. As a result, energy engineers have seen a 355% increase in demand and a 186% increase in environmental scientist postings. The average annual salaries for an energy engineer and an environmental scientist are $92,500 and $59,375, respectively.
Despite the industry shakeout, some jobs in the tech sector have risen above the economic doom and gloom. Jobseekers should take this opportunity to reassess if they’re happy with their job. If not, the next step is to evaluate their skillsets and identify the best career path.
Are you applying or recruiting for any of the top jobs mentioned? What are you looking for? Share your thoughts with us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!
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