Randstad Technologies shared insight on trends in the IT workforce, based on its experience with mid-market and large enterprises.

According to Randstad Technologies, the IT workforce will change in 2017 based on seven distinct trends:

1. The whole package: IT talent must have cybersecurity skills. The line between cybersecurity practitioners and IT specialists will begin to blur. Most IT staff will be required to have at least some expertise in cybersecurity. Experts now realize this is the only way to ensure that security is ubiquitous throughout networks and systems and that it gets baked in rather than bolted on after the fact. 
2. High demand for mobility skills. Mid-market businesses are constantly looking for ways to deploy sophisticated mobile technology. Whether for consumer-facing mobile applications or for managing internal workforce processes and resources, mobile developers will become some of the hottest talent hires in 2017.
3. With age comes experience. Diversity in the workforce has been a major focal point of the tech industry over the past 10 years. While the emphasis has been on encouraging more women and people of different ethnicities to join the tech workforce, the definition of diversity will expand to include age and experience.  
4. Independent workforce. The independent workforce trend is growing rapidly in this country — according to a recent study by MBO Partners, it's 40 million strong — and computer and IT are two of the top industries for freelancers. Due to the agile, project-oriented nature of technology work and the sustained technical talent shortage, client-side demand for freelance or temporary workers will continue to increase rapidly. Randstad Technologies expects agile employees — contractor, consultant, temporary or freelance positions — to comprise as much as 50% of the workforce by 2019, giving companies access to specialized talent and skillsets that fit their precise needs.
5. Gen Zs revive the traditional workplace. The first representatives of Generation Z have just entered the workforce, and they are bringing a dramatic new energy to every workplace. Among their career direction and choices, STEM-related professions are some of the most popular. Personal technology also attracts them, and in order to satisfy GenZ's craving for social media engagement, companies should strongly consider incorporating wearables and virtual reality into a revived workplace.
6. Automation in IT. Aided by big data and analytics, enterprises will automate certain IT functions (e.g., cybersecurity, network monitoring). However, automation won't eliminate the need for people in the workplace. Lower-level tasks might be automated, but human intelligence will still be needed for higher-level analysis and decision-making in IT environments.
7. New roles to keep up with new technology. The IT field continues to boom with technological breakthroughs and innovation, and 2017 will be no different. Quickly emerging technologies such as virtual reality and the Internet of Things will mean more demand for IT workers with these specialties. Along with the advancement of IoT will come the need to secure these devices — still a conundrum for technologists and policymakers. Enterprises will need to be agile enough to respond to shifting technology trends, both in their own workplaces and for their customers.