• Information technology jobs are projected to be among the fastest growing through 2024.
  • Hiring managers for IT jobs said skills in cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics, Internet of Things, and converged infrastructure are the highest-value, according to a recent report from IT and networking company Cisco and market intelligence firm IDC.
  • Many of these roles have skill shortages, the report said.

You probably already know IT jobs are well-paid and in-demand. IT jobs are among the fastest-growing for the next decade, according to a 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. A recent report from IT and networking company Cisco and market intelligence firm IDC highlighted just which positions are growing the fastest.

The report shows the IT jobs that are most highly demanded and most important to an organization’s success, through a global survey of hiring managers in information technology and analysis of nearly two million IT job postings.

Recruiters said skills in cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics, Internet of Things, and converged infrastructure are the highest-value. They also said there is a skill shortage for many of these roles.

"Digital transformation is driving the industry and creating demand for new roles," said Cushing Anderson, IDC program vice president, in a press release. "The economic opportunities are huge for individuals looking to further their IT careers - or begin them."

More than five million jobs in information technology are expected to be added globally by 2027, according to the report. Here are 13 positions with the best growth potential.

Each metric is rated on a five-point scale: very low, low, medium, high, and very high.


Web developer

Foto: source VFS Digital Design/Flickr

Future importance: Medium

Hiring difficulty: High

Long-term growth: Medium

Median income: $58,171


Mobile applications developer

Foto: source WOCinTech Chat/Flickr/Attribution

Future importance: Medium

Hiring difficulty: High

Long-term growth: Medium

Median income: $71,900


Change management

Foto: source Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

Future importance: Medium

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: High

Median income: $95,096


Business intelligence analyst

Foto: source REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

Future importance: Medium

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: High

Median growth: $66,208


Transformation consultant

Foto: source WOCinTech Chat/Flickr/Attribution

Future importance: Medium

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: Medium

Median income: $95,714


Data engineer

Foto: source Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Future importance: Medium

Hiring difficulty: High

Long-term growth: High

Median income: $90,436


Machine learning designer, developer, or engineer

Foto: source Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch

Future importance: High

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: High

Median income: $110,899


Software developer or engineer

Foto: source Women of Color in Tech/Flickr/Attribution

Future importance: High

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: Medium

Median income: $82,240


Business intelligence architect or developer

Foto: source WOCinTech Chat/flickr

Future importance: High

Hiring difficulty: High

Long-term growth: High

Median income: $108,475


IoT designer, developer, or engineer

Foto: source MadLab Manchester Digital Laboratory/Flickr/Attribution

Future importance: High

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: High

Median income: $95,800


Cyber security engineer or analyst

Foto: source US Cyber Command

Future importance: High

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: High

Median income: $74,360


Network engineer or architect

Foto: source WOCinTech Chat/Flickr/Attribution

Future importance: High

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: Low

Median income: $84,175


Security management specialist

Foto: source Sebastiaan ter Burg/Flickr

Future importance: Very high

Hiring difficulty: Very low

Long-term growth: High

Median income: $70,043