Important insights from CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, business leaders face a dual challenge: leveraging technology to drive growth and differentiation while making significant investments in products, processes, and people.

CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2024 sheds light on the trends that will shape the current business environment. These trends prompt critical questions for decision-makers as they chart the rest of this year and the next for their organizations. Regardless of company size or industry, innovative top-down policies are essential to unlock the potential of emerging tools and a dynamic workforce.

Addressing business needs through upskilling

One of the most significant challenges in adopting new technology is ensuring that skilled professionals can leverage it to meet business objectives. CompTIA's monthly Tech Jobs Report consistently shows that demand for technical skills outpaces supply, evidenced by new job postings each month and historically low unemployment rates for technology workers. The high demand for skills is a primary driver of optimism among technology professionals surveyed in CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2024 study, creating promising career pathways.

However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is set to dramatically alter job roles across the board. While this may not lead to the mass creation of new positions, it will require technical specialists to incorporate AI skills into their repertoire. This will likely involve training in general AI fundamentals followed by targeted training for specific job roles.

Areas of IT with skill gaps

Organizations report skill gaps across all areas of IT operations, particularly in core technical functions:

• Cybersecurity (43%): Continually evolving as cybercriminals exploit increased digital reliance.

• Software Development (43%): Requires a broad range of skills to build and customize applications.

• Data (33%): A primary focus for competitive differentiation.

• Infrastructure (33%): Continues to evolve with cloud architecture and digitized workflows.

• IT Support (32%): Remains critical as companies mature in their digital operations.

• Enablement (16%): Includes IT project management and emerging job roles, essential for operational structure but not necessarily redefining core skills.

AI deserves special mention in the skill gap discussion. Its most immediate impact is in software development, whether companies are building custom algorithms or developers are using AI to accelerate their efforts. With over 70% of companies surveyed in CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2024 saying they are actively integrating with AI, researching integration strategies, or plan to do so, the potential for jobs in AI has already increased and will only continue to grow.

Plans for addressing skill gaps in tech

Organizations are employing various strategies to address skill gaps:

• Training employees (59%): The preferred method for adding new workforce skills.

• Certifying employees (41%): Ensures employees have the necessary credentials.

• Hiring new employees (41%): Bringing in fresh talent to fill gaps.

• Transferring/promoting employees (35%): Leveraging internal talent for new roles.

• Partnering with outside firms (30%): Collaborating with external experts.

Training is favored because today's hiring methods are insufficient for sustainable skill development. Existing educational pathways struggle to keep pace with the dynamic tech environment, and there are simply not enough candidates to fill the myriad of positions companies need.

The unique benefits of upskilling

Upskilling addresses the skill gap problem in several unique ways:
1. Targeted skill development: Allows organizations to focus on specific skills rather than finding candidates who are merely a close match.

2. Employee retention: Demonstrates a commitment to employee growth, boosting morale and retention.

3. Cost-effectiveness: Often more economical than hiring new employees, especially when considering the costs of recruitment and onboarding.

CompTIA: your partner in training and certification

At CompTIA, we understand the critical role that training and certification play in empowering your workforce and driving business success. Our comprehensive suite of training solutions and globally recognized certifications are designed to meet the diverse needs of today's IT professionals and organizations. Whether you're looking to upskill your team in cybersecurity, AI, data science, or cloud computing, CompTIA offers the resources and expertise to help you achieve your goals.

Our certifications, such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and the advanced CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+),, are trusted by employers worldwide and cover a wide range of IT disciplines. Additionally, with the acquisition of TestOut, we have expanded our training capabilities to provide even more robust and interactive learning experiences.

The data is clear: certified and well-trained employees are a cornerstone of enterprise success. To unlock the full potential of their workforce, enterprises must:

1. Invest in certification programs: Ensure that employees have access to certification opportunities that align with organizational goals.

2. Prioritize formal training: Address the training gap by offering structured, formal training programs that meet employee preferences and industry demands.

3. Allocate sufficient resources: Commit to adequate funding and resources for training initiatives to ensure their effectiveness and impact.

4. Focus on high-demand skills: Develop targeted training programs in critical areas such as cybersecurity, AI, and data science to address hiring challenges and future-proof the organization.

By taking these steps and partnering with CompTIA, businesses can ensure they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern digital landscape, ultimately driving innovation, competitiveness, and success.

Looking to level up your team's skills? Follow this link to learn how to empower your team with training and certifications.