Top 5 Most In-Demand Tech Jobs for 2021 — and Skills Required for them
Tech jobs are some of the most in-demand jobs attracting some of the highest pay in the world. Over the last year, the new trend of businesses moving online has further increased the demand for tech professionals.
Hired’s 2020 State of Software Engineers report revealed that 2020 was a big year for software engineering talent.
This comes at a time when the rate of unemployment in Nigeria is at an all-time high. According to the National Bureau of Statistics‘ (NBS) Labour Force Survey, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is above 27%.
For the many unemployed tech enthusiasts, the increase in demand for tech professionals provides options in the current employment market. It also provides an opportunity for them to earn big.
Across the globe, tech jobs like cloud computing ($115,889), IT architecture and design ($98,580), project management ($98,344), and cybersecurity ($97,322) earn the highest salaries.
Similarly, in Nigeria, tech jobs are among the top-paying jobs. Here are some of the tech jobs that are most in-demand and the skills required to land them.
Systems Analyst
Systems analysts design techniques to help solve business problems by analyzing IT systems in the organization. Systems analysts investigate issues and fix them in a quick, efficient and cost-effective manner.
Major Tasks
- Conduct application testing and provide database management support.
- Create and maintain documentation as necessary for operational and security audits.
- Establish new users, manage access levels and reset passwords.
- Analyze and route issues into the proper ticketing systems and update and close tickets in a timely manner.
- Devise or modify procedures to solve problems considering computer equipment capacity and limitations.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in CS, IT, engineering, or IS
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Data analysis and programming skills
- Knowledgeable in operating systems and hardware
- Experience with business and technical analysis as well as project management
Salary range – N 75,000 – 6 million; Average salary per year – N 3.26 million
P.S – Different skills can affect your salary.
Mobile Applications Developer
Mobile App developers help companies keep up with the latest technologies by creating, developing, managing and maintaining new programs and software. As more businesses are moving online, all types of businesses are seeking application developers that can create applications (or apps) used on smartphones, computers, tablets and more.
Major Tasks
- Test and document software.
- Analyze requirements and transform them into technical designs.
- Write, modify, and debug software.
- Design and develop application components.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in design, CS or IT relevant field
- Some experience in mobile development
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Knowledge of iOS, Android, Objective C, HTML, XML, JavaScript, UX design, troubleshooting and debugging programs
Salary range – N 75,000 – 4 million; Average salary per year – N 1.24 million
Software Developer
Software developers are responsible for designing, developing, installing, testing, and maintaining software systems that allow users to perform specific tasks on computers or other devices.
Recently, the influx of digital transformation initiatives has bolstered the demand for software engineering talent, especially with specialities in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
Major Tasks
- Test and document software for client applications.
- Write code to create single-threaded, multi-threaded or user interface event driven applications, either stand-alone and those which access servers or services.
- Write, modify, and debug software for client applications.
- Use source debuggers and visual development environments.
Skills Required:
- Knowledge of multiple programming languages such as C#, C++, HTML, Java, Microsoft .NET, and SQL Server.
- Analytical and technical skills
- Strong communication skills
- Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science or other IT relevant fields
- certifications, boot camps, and prior work experience
Salary range – N 75,000 – 8 million; Average salary per year – N 2.03 million
DevOps Engineer
Development Operations (DevOps) are responsible for the production and ongoing maintenance of a website platform. They practice faster code deployment with fewer deployment failures. More companies are hiring engineers with DevOps experience to oversee coding, scripting and processes development.
Major Tasks
- Research new technologies that will improve efficiency and effectiveness.
- Manage IT infrastructure, provision resources, cloud infrastructure, and system administration
- Implement highly scalable applications.
- Integrate infrastructure builds with application deployment processes.
- Analyze, design and evaluate automation scripts and systems.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science or other IT relevant fields
- Coding and scripting skills in CSS, HTTP, SSL, HTML, XML, Java, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), DNS, NoSQL technologies, and web app development.
- Automation, data management, and IT operations skills
- Deep understanding of DevOps best practices
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Salary range – N 75,000 – 4 million; Average salary per year – N 1.8 million
Data Analyst
A data analyst analyzes data with the purpose of identifying areas where an organization can improve. They often work alongside teams gathering data to acquire information and make a deduction about specific topics.
Major tasks
- Collecting and interpreting data.
- Analysing results.
- Reporting relevant results and making informed deductions
- Identifying patterns and trends in data sets.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in IT relevant fields
- Data and Statistical Analysis
- Knowledgeable in computer programs such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, SharePoint, and SQL databases
- Database Management & Reporting
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Salary range – N 75,000 – 8 million; Average salary per year – N 1.3 million
In summary, it is not compulsory to have all the skills listed under each job but the number of skills you have often affects your chances of getting the job as well as the salary.
Also, not having a bachelors degree in relevant fields should not deter you from choosing a career part in tech. Over the last year, more and more jobs are gotten based on skill and not academic achievements.
Best of luck in your career and job hunt.
