Over the past several months, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a nationwide experiment with remote and flexible work, we’ve been keeping an eye on which employers have been hiring technologists for remote roles—and what kinds of skills they want those technologists to have. 

Throughout our lengthy analysis, some themes have remained consistent. First, healthcare, education, and defense firms have been the biggest markets for technologist talent during this period. Second—and this is very good news for technologists everywhere—the skills that companies want from technologists have been incredibly varied. 

However, some skills are more in-demand than others. Over the past 60 days, those top skills have included SQL, project management, Java, and software development, as you can see from the chart below. (For the chart’s data, we relied upon, as usual, Burning Glass, which collects and analyzes millions of job postings from across the country.)

SQL topping the rankings suggests that employers remain hungry for technologists who can wrangle data. Originally created as the standardized language for relational database management, SQL has become one of the most vital parts of many companies’ tech stacks. (In addition, SQL knowledge can boost your understanding of its various offshoots and derivations, including NoSQL). 

If you’re competing for a job that demands SQL skills, earning SQL-related certifications is well worth considering; they could help you stand out in a crowded field.  

The prevalence of project management and software development skills suggests that companies are looking for technologists who can help them execute their development roadmaps for 2021 and well beyond. It’s worth keeping in mind that such skillsets are holistic in nature—not only do you need a firm grasp of technical concepts, but you also need to master “soft skills” such as empathy and communication, which you’ll need in order to win buy-in from executives and other stakeholders.

And which employers have been hiring remote technologists over the past 60 days? Let’s take a look at the list, also courtesy of Burning Glass:

It’s easy to see why healthcare and military contracting companies would dominate this list—after all, those are the industries with famously massive budgets and a need for cutting-edge technology. If you’re looking for a new job in the new year, there’s a good chance those industries may have the opening you seek.