In 2024, artificial intelligence expertise has surpassed strategic thinking and the ability to tackle business-level issues as the most in-demand skill among IT managers in the U.K. This is according to a survey conducted by open-source software firm Red Hat, which polled 609 global IT managers from businesses with over 500 employees in August, including at least a hundred from the U.K. The survey asked about the technical areas that were most difficult to hire for, and AI, including data science, large language models, and generative AI, was cited by 81% of U.K. respondents. This marks a 9% increase from the previous survey in October 2023. The demand for AI skills is also on the rise worldwide, with 71% of all survey respondents flagging a skills gap in this area.
According to Sam Marland, a senior manager of Solution Architecture at Red Hat, the need for AI skills has grown as managers are seeing the power of consumer-grade chatbots and want to harness it for their own businesses. This is similar to the early days of mobile computing, when the impact of technologies like the iPhone was not yet fully understood. Marland also notes that companies are looking for leadership on how future changes in AI will play out, how regulations may change, and how to best use their data to bring about new customer experiences. As a result, enterprises are moving from traditional analytics and data science to something new.
The survey also found an increase in demand for cyber security skills in the U.K., from 69% to 75% in the last 10 months. This is likely due to the rise in high-profile cyber attacks and global tensions, with more nation-state actors working on vulnerabilities. Marland also points to the role of generative AI in simplifying cyber attacks for those with little to no skill, and helping those with more skills to form more sophisticated attacks.
Overall, the survey highlights the growing importance of AI expertise in the IT industry, as well as the need for cyber security skills to protect against potential threats. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial for IT managers to stay up-to-date with the latest skills and knowledge in order to effectively lead their organizations.
