When it comes to tech jobs, staying relevant comes down to having the right skills at the right time. According to the 2016 Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO survey, big data and analytics are leading the top 11 tech skills that are in demand for a second consecutive year.
But there are a number of other skills that make up the list, one of which is a newcomer. This year digital skills moved up to the No. 11 spot from No. 13 as demand for chief digital officers rise.
Digital skills pushed testing skills off the top 11 list, according to the survey of 3,352 CIOs and technology leaders in 82 countries who were asked, "Which functions do you feel suffer from a skills shortage?"
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"Because, like other innovations, there are so many software advances in automating testing, so it is less of a focus than other skills," Bob Miano, president and CEO of Harvey Nash USAPAC, told InformationWeek. "Testing does not make you money, unless it breaks. Now, we have all these scripts that do the testing for you."
While the 11 skills on the list have largely remained in place for a number of years, the ranking shifts from year to year. For example, data analytics may drop down in ranking two years from now while some other skills move up on the list.
"In this field, nothing falls off the cliff," Miano said. "The marketplace works in an evolutionary mindset."
Here's a look at the top 11 skills that are in demand for 2016 and how that demand has shifted over the previous year.