Some technologists never want to return to the office ever again. That’s perfectly fine with the many employers posting all-remote jobs. But which tech skills are particularly in-demand for those remote jobs?
For an answer, we can turn to Emsi Burning Glass, which collects and analyzes millions of job postings from across the country. Based on data from 2022, software development skills are mentioned the most often in job postings for all-remote tech jobs, followed by SQL, project management, Python, and software engineering. Here’s the full list:
What conclusions can we draw from this breakdown? First, ultra-popular programming languages such as SQL, Python, and Java remain in strong demand among employers in a variety of industries. Second, mastering the concepts that undergird so much of the tech industry, including software development and DevOps, is key to landing jobs—employers want you to master tools, but they also want you to understand how things should work on their most basic level.
Earlier this month, CompTIA’s latest Tech Jobs Report broke down job postings for remote tech positions. Software developers/engineers represent the bulk of current remote job postings—but network engineers/architects and systems engineers/architects are well-represented and growing at an enviable month-over-month rate. With tech unemployment at historically low levels (1.3 percent in March), employers are looking for tech talent wherever they can find it—even if that talent lives hundreds or thousands of miles away.
When applying for remote jobs, make sure from the outset that any job of interest is permanently remote; some companies are only offering remote positions on a temporary basis, expecting you to start coming into the office after a certain point. You should also prepare for a series of remote job interviews, which means paying attention to a different set of details than an in-person interview; for example, is your background behind you appropriate to a professional meeting? You should also make sure that the remote company’s schedule works for you—you don’t necessarily want to wake up three hours earlier in order to meet their standard workday.
