Dive Brief:

• AI analysts, business intelligence developers and cybersecurity engineers crown the list of most in-demand technology roles, according to a Robert Half report published Monday. The talent consulting firm analyzed 6 million new positions across job boards and company sites.
• More than three-quarters of technology leaders in an accompanying survey said their departments are currently experiencing skills gaps. Nearly 7 in 10 executives said skills gaps increased in the last year. 
• The hiring push reflects enterprise strategic priorities, which include securing IT systems and deploying AI, ML and automation, according to the report.

Dive Insight:

As enterprises surmount cost and data hurdles on the path to AI adoption, talent attraction remains a stumbling block. Skilled AI workers are scarce and in demand.

To respond to the deficit in experienced AI specialists, CIOs are turning inward. Businesses plan to deploy internal upskilling efforts to close the gap, elevating in-house rank and file.

Global executives view tech talent scarcity as a key global risk, alongside economic uncertainty and cyber threats, according to data from consulting firm Protiviti. The company surveyed 1,215 board members and C-suite executives for a report published earlier this month.

The ongoing search for specialized talent is reflected in an expansion of existing IT jobs as well as open positions.

Nearly a quarter million technology occupations were added by employers across industries in January, according to a CompTIA review of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The IT trade group also found active job postings rose last month, reaching 476,000 active open roles.

More than half of leaders are launching AI training efforts this year to address the talent crunch, according to a Revature survey of HR and IT decision-makers.