The State of Tech Talent Acquisition in 2024: Insights & Strategies Revealed

By

State of Tech Talent 2024 blog header image

When we first introduced “The State of Tech Talent Acquisition” in 2023, our research shed light on the persistent hurdles around sourcing talent and fostering diversity, revealing shortcomings in the traditional tech talent pipeline.

Fast forward to today, and companies are still facing hiring difficulties, amplified by the emergence of artificial intelligence. Who could’ve anticipated that ChatGPT would become the fastest-growing consumer app in history, reaching 100 million weekly users and achieving a 90% saturation rate at Fortune 500 companies within its inaugural year? 

In this year’s edition of “The State of Tech Talent,” we explore the transformative impact of on-demand, generative AI on the global workforce. Drawing insights from a comprehensive survey of over 1,000 HR professionals worldwide, this research offers invaluable perspectives on talent acquisition and pipeline development amidst ever-shifting ground.

Survey says, the future of work is here…and so much more:

1. There’s a Gold Rush for AI Skills.

The demand for cutting-edge tech skills reaches new heights with the meteoric rise of AI last year. We’ve found 97% of surveyed companies across the globe are incorporating AI into their operations or products, and 95% of managers are adding “AI skills” into the mix of job requirements for non-technical roles. Amid the soaring demand, 69% of HR leaders are grappling with the scarcity of AI-proficient talent, which surpasses shortages observed in other coveted skills such as data analytics, data science, software engineering, or UX design.

2. The Price of Tech Talent is Rising.

Given the limited pool of AI-skilled candidates, companies are shelling out more to secure top tech talent; 91% of HR leaders report that qualified applicants are demanding higher salaries, and 66% of companies are willing to pay it. Particularly in Europe and Asia, or within AI-heavy organizations, job seekers are poised to secure above-average paychecks. Over half of companies are investing at least $10,000 in AI recruitment, and the average North American firm is spending $23,247 to fill these roles.

3. Navigating the Tech Talent Maze Is Tricky, But Mission-Critical.

The vast majority of HR leaders (93%) say that sought-after job description skills are evolving at breakneck speed, with 29% admitting they lack full comprehension of the roles they’re recruiting for. Post-onboarding, the hurdles persist, with almost all HR leaders (97%) witnessing the need for different skill sets in new hires, underscoring the imperative of robust upskilling programs.

4. Charting a New Course Requires Alternative Approaches.

Despite the challenges, companies are forging innovative paths to bridge the AI talent gap. Leaders around the world are forming partnerships with educators to cultivate new talent pipelines. They’re investing in upskilling their current employees, including executives and those in traditionally non-technical roles. They’re dropping degree requirements for open roles, increasing hiring budgets, and bolstering HR teams. With a holistic approach, companies are putting themselves in a better position to meet their tech hiring needs head-on in 2024.

5. Transformation Starts With Training.

AI has arrived on the international stage in a big, bold way, and organizations around the world are trying to make the best of this rapidly emerging tech.

In this age of accelerated business transformation, the key to filling your roster with tech talent lies in taking a skills-first approach. By democratizing access to emerging AI tools and empowering every employee with the know-how to use them, you’ll drive greater innovation and efficiency — along with securing the tech talent necessary to future-proof your organization.

We invite you to dive deeper into the insights of the “State of Tech Talent 2024” report. 

Download it here. 

Since 2011, General Assembly has upskilled, reskilled, and trained over 100,000 learners worldwide to help tackle the ongoing supply and demand challenges within the tech sector. 

Take the first step toward unlocking your organization’s full potential. Get in touch with our team to learn more about the tech training and talent solutions we can provide to help your business.

Applied Generative AI Workshop: Skills for Real-World Business Applications

By

Students learning together

Generative artificial intelligence dominated the headlines in 2023, driving market growth and reshaping workplace dynamics. As momentum continues across all sectors, the market’s predicted to grow 46% and reach $22.12 billion by 2025. 

Whether you’re brainstorming marketing ideas, coding automation scripts, or generating data reports, AI’s emerging set of foundational tech skills are shaking up notions of what’s possible in the workplace. 

For tech workers, AI topics such as natural language processing, machine learning, Python programming, data handling, and ethics have all become essential currencies, opening up exciting opportunities to increase value, advance, and contribute meaningfully. Yet, the user-friendly nature of large language models is pulling even non-technical employees like marketers and product managers into the fray as well.

For leaders, the message is clear. Investing in ongoing education empowers employees to tackle everyday tasks with ease, while sharpening their skills to stay ahead of the curve. Collaborative training programs break down silos between departments, fostering a culture of innovation and collective advancement.

General Assembly’s new Applied Generative AI Workshop offers a comprehensive solution that equips both technical and non-technical employees with essential skills in just 16 hours. Through a hands-on AI prompt writing workshop, AI ethics training, and bias mitigation techniques, your team develops a well-rounded, practical understanding of generative AI.

Continue reading →

Why You Should Consider a Career in Data Analytics

By

Singapore learner on laptop

Alert: approaching maximum storage capacity. 

The world’s data use increases each year, with a forecast of 147. zettabytes created, consumed, and stored in 2024 – which is enough storage for 55 billion 4K movies.

This is a good thing – right? More data means more innovation, which means more advancements for society. 

Not necessarily. 

Think of data the same way you think about a library. There are so many books in one place (which is awesome) but it’s only useful if you know: 

  • How to find the information you need.
  • And how to apply it. 

Businesses have more data than ever before – about their company, their customers, and the world – but no one to tell them what it means. 

That’s where data analysts come in. 

WHAT DO DATA ANALYSTS DO? 

When there’s a problem, data analysts help solve it. 

The first step to addressing business challenges is gathering information (data) and finding answers and insights to guide companies towards better decisions. That’s the role of the data analyst. 

For example, a company may want to know which segment of customers is driving the most revenue from a marketing campaign. 

The data analyst will gather all the data related to the campaign. This may mean exploring customer demographics, marketing acquisition sources, behavioural data, and purchase data. 

They’ll look for notable statistical findings. They’ll form these into insights and create written and/or visual reports to help stakeholders learn and apply the findings to their future campaigns. 

As a distinction from data scientists, data analysts typically work with structured data from a single source and provide historical analysis as opposed to predictive modelling.

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A DATA ANALYTICS CAREER? 

The most obvious reasons to work in the field of data analytics include these top three reasons: 

  1. You’re dealing with data, numbers, and statistics, but you still get to creatively work to solve problems. 
  2. You’re paid well for this skill.
  3. Data keeps growing and so will the need for data analysts. 

But there are other benefits that may not be quite so apparent: 

  • Most employers are interested in talent with skills. There is not a big focus on degrees and further education. 
  • Many data analyst jobs are remote. No more commuting!
  • The technical skills you learn are easily transferable to other jobs like coding, data science, and more. 

5 TOP JOB TITLES FOR DATA ANALYSTS

What kind of jobs can you get as a data analyst? There are varying specialities and job titles in the field of data analytics. Here are some job titles you may see in this family of jobs:

DATA ANALYST

Related job titles: Junior Data Analyst, Entry-Level Data Analyst, Associate Data Analyst

You can find a data analyst at nearly every company in the world, in every industry imaginable. The average data analyst needs to know some basic programming languages like Python and SQL, and they should be comfortable running statistical analyses and visualising data. 

OPERATIONS ANALYST 

Related job title: Operations Research Analyst 

An operations analyst focuses on the inner workings of a business, helping it run more efficiently. They typically work for larger companies or they work at consulting firms employed by bigger businesses.

MARKETING ANALYST 

Related job title: Market Research Analyst 

One of the biggest parts of any company’s budget is the money they spend on marketing efforts. A marketing analyst looks at market, campaign, and demographic data to ensure companies are executing marketing efforts in the most cost-effective and impactful way possible.

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ANALYST 

You’ll spend your days as a BI analyst looking for patterns in your company’s data. You’ll have to make sure you’re good at communicating and that you enjoy visualising data and modelling future scenarios. 

Is a business analyst the same as a data analyst? While the skill sets are similar, there are some differences. Here’s our take on business analyst vs. data analyst. 

LOGISTICS ANALYST

Logistics analysts look at every stage of a production process and product lifecycle. They may analyse supply chain flows and find areas of improvement to increase efficiency and profit for a company. 

DATA ANALYST CAREER OUTLOOK 

Companies, including retailers, investment banks, big tech, and professional services (including accounting and insurance), are all ramping up their data analytics workforce. Other industries hiring for data analysts include logistics, healthcare, government, and sports. 

ARE DATA ANALYST JOBS IN DEMAND? 

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) stated that the data science industry in Singapore contributes an estimated $730 million (USD) to the economy annually. Operations research analysts and market research analysts are also high-growth job categories. 

WHAT’S THE AVERAGE SALARY WORKING IN DATA ANALYTICS? 

In Singapore, the median salary for a data analyst is SGD $99,000, with the middle 50% earning between SGD $75,000 and $137,000. Of course, how much you can earn as a data analyst depends on several factors including education, experience, industry, and geography. For example, the median data analyst salary in the United States is $113,250, with the middle 50% earning between $93,000 and $134,000. In Australia, the typical data analyst salary is in the range of AUD $114,500 and $143,500

Experience and industry can also have an impact on your expected salary. An entry-level data analyst in Singapore’s financial services industry, for example, earns a median salary of SGD $60,000, while a senioranalyst in the same industry earns SGD $74,000 and a director in analytics earns SGD $132,000. 

HOW TO BECOME A DATA ANALYST

Most data analytics jobs require a bachelor’s degree. Degree programs in mathematics, statistics, business, or economics are ideal, but college grads can re-skill for data analytics with any major. 

There have never been more options for individuals to skill up for a career switch, and some employers will even pay for it because of fast-changing business needs. Here are twoways to gain the data analytics skills you need to fast-track a new career in this field:

#1: PART-TIME DATA ANALYTICS COURSE

If you have a full-time job or other responsibilities, a part-time course can be a good option and offers accountability for a set curriculum and timeline. However, the part-time model takes longer to finish and longer to reach the job market than a full-time option. 

#2: FULL-TIME DATA ANALYTICS BOOTCAMP

What is a data analytics bootcamp? Bootcamps provide immersive, intensive training for entry-level professionals in a field. Bootcamps can be in-person or online and are instructor-led, often with multiple speakers and mentors for a course and a cohort. 

So, which option is the best for you? It really depends on your background and learning style.  

If you have transferable skills and experience, you may only need to brush up on a programming language like Python to make the leap. If you’re coming from an unrelated field or from a career break, a more immersive, structured program like a bootcamp may be your best bet to get job-ready. 

GO FROM BEGINNER TO DATA ANALYST IN 12 WEEKS

General Assembly’s Data Analytics Bootcamp is designed for complete beginners. Get hands-on training from actual data analysts working in the field, and graduate in just 12 weeks ready for your first data analyst job. It’s the most direct route to your new data analyst career.

Applied AI for Business Consultants: Mastering AI Solutions for Today’s Challenges

By

GA Students in classroom working on laptops and writing on a whiteboard

Consulting — by its very nature — disrupts. With a penchant for status quo shaking and innovative thinking, consultants are the architects of strategic initiative and organizational transformation for their clients. Therefore, it begs the question: why shouldn’t you spearhead the adoption of artificial intelligence powered solutions?

The time is now, with the “fourth industrial revolution” well underway. AI for business is the topic of discussion in every boardroom as leaders face mounting pressure to identify impactful use cases that will markedly improve customer service, software engineering, and overall business operations. Nearly half of organizations worldwide have already started embedding artificial intelligence into their products and workflows. 

To blend into this landscape, there’s no need to relinquish your role to a chatbot or switch careers entirely. Practically speaking, all you need is a path to upskill your entire firm with the latest AI consulting skills. General Assembly’s Applied AI for Business Consultants workshop is tailored to help you make this transition seamlessly.

Let’s unpack what that means for you and those you serve.

Continue reading →

Career Tarotscopes for April 2024 

By and

GA Astrology Career Card Deck

FIND YOUR SIGN

Rebecca Szymczak, aka Cardsy B, author of The Saturn Diaries and tarot reader to the stars, consulted her cards and has guidance for which signs should embrace April’s fiery Aries vibes to launch new initiatives and which signs should wait until after the solar eclipse on April 8 to make any big decisions. She also has some insight into interesting team dynamics following the full moon in Scorpio at the end of the month.

April comes in hotter than ever this year. As always, the month launches with Aries season — aka the energetic initiator of the zodiac — but April 2024 also brings a powerful solar eclipse on Friday the 8th, when the sun, north node, Chiron, and the moon are all in Aries, igniting a powerful reset. This eclipse will particularly affect matters involving leadership, courage, and individuality. The week following the eclipse provides a powerful window of opportunity to shine and receive recognition for last quarter’s efforts and progress. Be mindful when setting up meetings, as Mercury officially went into retrograde on the first of the month, reminding us to double and even triple-check meeting makers and emails for clarity. Mercury moves direct on April 25, but we still have a brief shadow period to be mindful of. April 30 is a powerful day to go full steam ahead on new projects as Mars enters its ruler of Aries and provides some extra confidence and momentum to passion projects.

All signs will receive supercharged activations this month. Aries is equal parts power and impatience — it’s just a matter of paying attention to the environment and choosing your moments wisely. Read on to see what the cards have in store for your sign. 

Continue reading →

Just Launched: Revamped Software Engineering Bootcamp Experience

By

You’re looking for an engaging career in technology — work that’s interesting and fulfilling, pay that helps you meet financial goals, and a day-to-day schedule that fits your life. 

Consider software engineering. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor predicts that software engineering employment will grow by 25% from 2022 to 2032. Will you join the ranks? 

At General Assembly, we’re dedicated to educating the next generation of software engineers — because you don’t need a college degree to succeed in this exciting, evolving field. You just need the right skills, up-to-date training, and hands-on experience with everyday tools. That’s what employers are looking for. 

To help you accelerate your path to your first software engineering job, we’ve revamped our Software Engineering Bootcamp experience with a cutting-edge curriculum upgrade, fresh video content, a state-of-the-art learning management system, plus the freedom of two schedule options. 

Continue reading →

AI for Leaders: GA’s Essential Workshop for Informed AI Decision Making

By

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Table of contents

The year is 2025: decisions are made with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel, powered by algorithms that sift through mountains of data in a moment’s time. 

After a seismic shift in artificial intelligence rocked the business world in 2023 with the release of free and accessible generative AI platforms, the chasm between those equipped to lead — and those left behind — widens. Whether AI is an innovation or a disruption for your business depends upon your policies, training programs, and talent acquisition strategies. 

Like it or not, AI is reshaping work — boosting productivity, profitability, and competitive edge. No industry or business is immune to the relentless drumbeat of technology. Gone are the days of simply hiring a handful of IT experts. Now, it’s about elevating every employee to harness the benefits and power of this transformative tech.

While it may sound like a tall order, there’s no time like the present to align your leadership team, starting with AI fluency training, skill development, and strategic planning to embrace an AI-driven business model. 

With General Assembly’s AI for Leaders Workshop, there’s a clear path forward. 

Continue reading →

Data Skills: What Professional Service Consultants Need To Know

By

As a strategic consultant, you know your clients are eager to talk data. From mining to analysis to modeling, they’re keen for you to extract meaningful insights and use them to shape forward-thinking strategies that address their most pressing challenges.

Maintaining leading-edge data skills is a top business imperative for all professional service firms — but how do you make sure you — and every new employee that joins your ranks — are sharpening data competencies to the highest standard? 

Continue reading →

Navigating the Future: Why AI Skills Are Crucial in 2024

By

GA Astronaut floating in space

Let’s start with the obvious: AI technology is changing the world of work faster than anyone anticipated. From predictive analytics and automation to content generation, companies across every industry are rapidly integrating AI into their operations and seeking employees who can understand and leverage it effectively.

To put some numbers to it, 40% of organizations plan to increase their investments in artificial intelligence this year alone. This means that the potential for new job opportunities is huge — especially for early adopters in a market where the number of AI-proficient workers is slim.

From simple prompt writing to programming and machine learning, companies are urgently seeking AI-ready talent — and they’re willing to pay handsomely for it. While the hefty salaries for senior level AI positions tend to get the most attention, entry-level roles are still commanding some impressive numbers. A survey by Bizreport found that entry-level AI workers earn 128% more than in other occupations and that AI has widened the pay gap between tech jobs and other occupations by 36%.

Becoming proficient in AI skills in demand will help you capitalize on AI’s unprecedented growth opportunities. Find out which AI skills will be hot tickets for 2024 and beyond.

Continue reading →

Data Skills 2024: What Financial Firms Need To Know

By

Today, data is the key to decision-making, modernization, and competitive customer experiences. But without the right people to make sense of it all, this data can become increasingly fragmented and inaccessible — while valuable opportunities slip into the rearview mirror.

“Data is only an asset when you have the right people in place who know how to use the data and democratize it across the business. That’s where we see opportunity meet impact.” 
– Angela Brennan, Global Lead Solutions Architect at General Assembly 

But where will you find the right data-savvy talent? In some cases, the answer is: within your own organization. As AI-driven tech makes roles like recordkeepers, data entry clerks, underwriters, and auditors redundant, upskilling and reskilling talent to data-adjacent roles is one powerful strategy for upleveling your capabilities, while preserving your company’s internal wellspring of knowledge and morale. 

That said, not every job opening can be filled internally. As new data roles emerge, you’ll need dependable pipelines for net-new talent that meets the evolving skill sets — and use case requirements — of the data tasks at hand.

To make these pivots quickly and effectively, you’ll need a clearer understanding of data’s growing role in the finance sector and the solutions that exist. 

Continue reading →