ACM CareerNews for Tuesday, February 18, 2025
ACM CareerNews is intended as an objective career news digest for busy IT professionals. Views expressed are not necessarily those of ACM. To send comments, please write to [email protected]
Volume 21, Issue 4, February 18, 2025
Tech Jobs and Postings Surge at the Start of 2025
CIO Dive, February 7
The proliferation of new technologies continues to create demand for emerging job roles. In fact, the recent Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified 15 of the fastest-growing job titles by 2030. These are highly tech-focused and include big data specialists, fintech engineers, AI and ML specialists, plus software and applications developers. Given the current skills gap, employers may need to explore creative hiring strategies that go well beyond just reskilling and upskilling in order to fill all their open tech roles in these areas.
The increase in tech unemployment is somewhat unexpected, given the current talent gap for qualified technologists. This talent gap is especially evident in niche categories such as AI and data science. A potential explanation for the month-over-month rise in unemployment is that jobseekers may have restarted their search last month after a pause in December, but have not yet found a new position, Big tech companies have been conducting targeted layoffs and offering workers exit packages in early 2025, complicating matters even more.
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What Are the Hottest Quantum Computing Jobs to Get in 2025?
Programming Insider, December 26
As companies, research institutions, and startups race to harness the power of quantum computing, the demand for skilled professionals in the quantum computing domain is skyrocketing. The thinking now is that quantum computing will enable organizations and companies to solve problems once thought impossible, and that is leading to a new hiring push for quantum computing professionals. If you are considering a career in this field, the most exciting opportunities include quantum algorithm developer, quantum hardware engineer, and quantum software engineer.
Quantum algorithm developers design and optimize algorithms that run on quantum computers. These professionals play a pivotal role in translating complex real-world problems into quantum language. In terms of key skills, they must have a deep understanding of quantum mechanics and linear algebra. They should also have a proficiency in quantum programming languages, as well as strong problem-solving skills and the ability to create algorithms for industries such as cryptography, drug discovery, and financial modeling.
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Ten-Year IT Job Outlook: Positive News for Cybersecurity, Software Development, and Management Roles
Spiceworks, January 13
Based on the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, the long-term IT job outlook continues to be favorable. The government agency now projects 4% job growth with an expected increase of 6.7 million jobs over the next decade. Of 13 leading tech occupations, 11 of them are expected to see 5% or greater growth in job openings over the next 10 years. In fact, the number of information security analyst positions is predicted to grow at an astounding 33% clip, with rapid growth also coming for software developers, IT managers, and computer network architects.
The ten-year job growth projections are particularly positive for the following occupations: software developers (+18%), IT managers (+17%), and computer network architects (+13%). However, the outlook is not universally optimistic. For example, the number of job openings for computer programmers is expected to fall by 10% over the next ten years. Additionally, while previous projections for network and computer systems administrators were flat or slightly positive, the BLS now sees the number of systems administrator positions declining by 3%. Reading between the lines, more specialized IT roles (such as those in cybersecurity, software, and infrastructure design) will be more in demand. In contrast, more generalized positions are expected to be less in demand.
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IT Leaders Turn to Upskilling to Close Looming Skills Gap
HR Dive, February 11
More than 75% of businesses have struggled to meet their IT talent needs, and that is leading a growing number of organizations to focus on upskilling or reskilling their current staffers. Right now, more than 4 in 5 decision-makers are concerned about finding technology talent this year. Companies are struggling to fill open roles, especially in machine learning, AI and generative AI. Data and analytics, cloud, and cybersecurity are other common pain points in talent attraction.
Employers ended last year with far less talent available than open roles in tech, a sign of the long-standing undersupply in critical technology categories. In December, businesses had more than 430,000 active technology job postings, including more than 165,000 newly added roles. AI adoption efforts within the enterprise, coupled with the relative recency of categories such as machine learning and generative AI, are fueling the mismatch between supply and demand. The accelerated pace of AI development is compounding the problem as new products and terms, including agentic AI, enter the fold.
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5 Ways of Telling That You Used AI on Your CV
Dice Insights, February 13
Increasingly, job applicants are using AI to write their resume, cover letter, and other elements of their application packages. However, there are certain risks involved with using AI. For example, AI-generated text tends to be monotonic, and typically lacks colloquial language. Sentences do not vary in length so much, or in their layout. As a result, your application could lose some of its originality and sparkle. If your documents read too much like an AI wrote them, it may weaken your chances of landing an interview with a recruiter or hiring manager.
AI has been used in a variety of ways that allow people to save time or compensate for a lack of knowledge. However, it is not difficult to recognize AI-generated content as it tends to be a bit robotic and lack emotional content. As far as CVs go, the overuse of buzzword phrases can be a bit of a giveaway. Other clues that you might be reading an AI-created text is the lack of colloquial language, not to mention a deficit of personality or voice. If you are reading something that seems too formal, particularly if it is an email or text between two people, chances are good it is AI-generated.
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Job Seekers: Here Are the Most Important Steps To Take Before You Apply
Fast Company, February 8
Finding your perfect dream job could be harder than you think, since no tech job can possibly meet all of your requirements. Thus, it is important to understand what role and work environment will provide the most progress in your career. To switch jobs productively and expect job satisfaction in your next role, critical steps need to be completed before submitting your application anywhere. Most importantly, you need to identify the root causes of why you want to change jobs in the first place.
When most people think about changing jobs, they tend to focus on the features they want, like better hours, less travel, higher pay, a worthier title, faster advancement, greater responsibility, more impact, and more vacation or benefits. All those things sound nice, but such lists rarely help us progress in our careers because they fail to ground us in the true reasons we are looking for something new. People love to complain about their jobs and think about what could be better. But to understand what really causes job changes, it requires looking at those who make the switch. When researchers looked at the functional, social, and emotional forces that pushed someone to make a job move, they noticed these people clustered into four common patterns.
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Looking to Build a Career in Software Development?
Silicon Republic, February 10
There are a number of ways to get started in the field of software development, regardless of whether you are a recent graduate or experienced tech professional. One popular option, especially with students and recent graduates, is to consult a career guidance counsellor. For those who feel they could use additional help in figuring out the next steps, there are free and paid professional services where a coach will show you what it will take to get you from point A to point B in your career.
While online courses are one way to accomplish your goals, the easiest route to beginning a career as a software developer is likely via a university education. Degrees in areas such as computer science, software engineering and IT will put you on the right track to develop the necessary skills. And, if you intend to pursue further education, will likely give you the opportunity to consider a masters or a PhD down the line. Having a degree or other form of certification is undeniable proof that you understand the basics and have the technical skills needed. It also shows you can commit across a long period of time.
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These Tech Skills Drove the Biggest Salary Increases Over the Past Year
ZDNet, January 14
Professionals and managers working directly with artificial intelligence (AI) are seeing their compensation increase significantly. Moreover, these workers are also experiencing greater job satisfaction and are more likely to be working on mission-critical business projects. Overall, AI skills command nearly an 18% premium over other tech roles. Professionals in senior roles are more likely to be involved in AI work, which partially explains the disparity in salaries. All things being equal, having AI skills on your resume can provide a boost in compensation.
The average technology professional now earns $112,521 a year across all disciplines, reflecting a 1.2% year-on-year increase. IT executives and managers lead the pack by a wide margin, earning almost $170,000 annually on average. Developers tend to earn close to $130,000 annually. At the same time, salaries and rates of increase vary considerably by specific skill areas. It should come as no surprise that compensation for AI and cloud-related skills is rising quickly. Salaries for people skilled in natural language processing rose 21% over the past year, followed by increases for those with Amazon and AWS-related capabilities.
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Fit for People, Fit for Purpose: Designing Tech That Matters
Communications of the ACM, January 21
Many people who never intended to pursue a career in computer science end up with successful careers in the tech industry. Often, a familiarity with technology led them to explore computer science-related career options that provide opportunities for flexibility and continual learning. In some cases, it enables them to travel the world, work in different places, and meet and work with amazing people. Most importantly, it enables them to follow the drive to make a difference and explore the question of how to create better-fitting technologies for people and what is important to them.
Every new technology phase since the late 1980s has been accompanied by increasingly complex challenges at increasing scales that are profoundly changing what it means to be human and who we are as a society. As technologists, we need to engage with these broader challenges. For example, the early days of distributed computing enabled people to collaborate together from a distance. But there were challenges involved, and those challenges only continued with the emergence of the World Wide Web, the proliferation of mobile devices and social media, ubiquitous computing, the Internet of Things, and smart computing environments. Now we are grappling with artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs). That means that people-centered perspectives on technology are more important than ever.
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Shaping the Future of Computing
Blog@CACM, January 29
Once a niche field reserved for specialized researchers, computing has transformed into an essential discipline that shapes nearly every aspect of modern life. With the rise of online education and the growing accessibility of computer science degrees, we are entering an era when more people than ever can contribute to this transformative field. However, alongside these advancements come critical ethical questions about how to shape the future of technology responsibly.
As higher education costs continue to rise, many learners seek flexible, budget-friendly alternatives that still provide high-quality education. This is especially true for technical fields like computer science, where affordability and accessibility can make a significant difference. Over the past decade, one of the most significant shifts in education has been the proliferation of online learning platforms. The availability of cheap computer science degree online programs has democratized access to one of the most in-demand fields of study. As technology becomes more pervasive, the demand for skilled professionals who can understand and innovate responsibly has skyrocketed. Online programs have become a gateway for many to achieve this. Pursuing a computer science degree online enables students to continue working or managing other responsibilities while studying. Many of these programs provide flexible schedules, allowing learners to pace their education according to their needs without compromising quality.
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