AI, Cloud Computing attract technology workers looking for jobs

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In a year of great uncertainty for tech workers, nearly a quarter of a million layoffs in the industry and the rapid growth of the artificial intelligence sector are affecting their priorities and career interests. technology staff. A new Morning Consult survey of hundreds of workers in technical roles — including software engineers, software product managers, data scientists, IT specialists and others — shows see the fields these individuals say they want to work in and what they are looking for in their jobs. next employer. Specifically, many people are looking for stable work and opportunities in the field of AI or cloud computing.

AI and cloud computing are the fields of top concern for the technology world

Among the dozens of different fields and sectors under the broader technology umbrella, from renewable energy to online search to logistics, AI and cloud computing have emerged as areas where talents technical skills are most interested in plying their business.

The emergence of next-generation AI technologies is happening in parallel with a significant reset in the tech labor market. After a period of mass hiring during the pandemic lockdown, technology companies facing economic hardships reversed course, culminating in mass layoffs. While the number of technology job postings has decreased year by year, the number of job postings for AI-related jobs has skyrocketed. The sector is becoming such an integral part of the tech landscape that even the city of San Francisco is relying on AI developments to help revitalize its beleaguered downtown. It seems like tech workers are ready to meet this new supply of AI jobs with their own needs.

It should also be noted that cloud computing is the field that attracts the second attention of technology workers, followed by financial technology and big data analysis. Cloud computing is a key focus for tech companies this year, especially as investors look to profits. Historically, Google and Microsoft’s efforts in this area have not been very profitable. But cloud computing is also now closely tied to artificial intelligence, and companies of all sizes are turning to cloud computing to help train and operate AI models, with the need for chips to provide The energy for these efforts far exceeds the supply. Similarly, we can see the supply and demand of tech workers becoming essential to the AI ​​industry.

For tech workers, the focus of AI is on how they work as well as where they work. The vast majority of tech workers say general AI applications will be helpful to them in their work, from performing administrative tasks like writing emails, to technical tasks like writing code, to Creativity such as visual content design.

The possibility of job replacement through AI is a frequently discussed topic and could very well become a reality for many people. But there is also the potential to enhance work, and tools to help technology employees work better are being used. GitHub Copilot and OpenAI Codex provide software developers with an AI “assistant” to help write code, and other tools like Copy.ai and Firefly.ai are available to help workers with other tasks like writing copy or meeting summaries.

For tech workers, replacing all software development or data science jobs with AI is unlikely, at least in the short term. Instead, the most likely scenario is that AI becomes part of everyone’s daily workflow and is an essential skill that, when honed properly, will help workers achieve success. .

Tech workers are open to new opportunities and looking for more stability

After a wave of layoffs this year, combined with an environment of inflation and economic uncertainty, nearly 3 in 5 tech workers said they are actively applying for new jobs or opening up new opportunities. It is these economic factors, as well as the rise of the AI ​​field mentioned earlier, that are shaping what tech workers are looking for in their next job.

When tech workers are looking for new opportunities, job security and stability are just as important to them as salary and benefits. While it is indeed very likely that layoffs in the tech sector play a role in the importance of job stability for tech workers, layoffs themselves are not a deterrent. hinder finding jobs in the technology field in the future. Just 11% of tech workers said layoffs made them less likely to apply to tech companies in the future, and only 14% said tech companies did the same. Are not Guaranteed good work. By all accounts, technical talent sees tech companies as good places to work and hasn’t written them off yet.

Tech workers are divided on returning to the office

Looking ahead, the next battle employers will face is the return to the office. Companies like Google and Apple are taking a more positive stance toward remote and hybrid work, pushing employees to return to the office on the grounds that working in person is more productive and collaborative. But not all tech workers are convinced, and their opinions on remote and in-person work depend on the situation.

Tech workers tend to agree that feeling a sense of belonging, managing others, and collaborating with colleagues is easier in an office environment. But they differ more in characteristics that relate to them as individuals, such as work focus and personal health care. For example, they tend to say it’s easier to maintain a healthy work-life balance and cultivate healthy habits when working from home. Half (51%) say work-life balance is “very important” when looking for a job, so a company’s reputation in this field is likely to be taken into account when deciding. apply or not.

Companies looking to hire engineers and managers to build their next big product should consider more than money when making an offer. Many tech workers are looking for game-changing projects to work on, such as AI integration, as well as opportunities to work in growing fields like cloud computing. Whether due to a wave of layoffs, pandemic lockdowns, or a broader shift in attitudes, many tech workers are looking toward higher salaries and benefits for stability and healthy balance. strong balance between work and life.