Demand for technologists remains notably high. However, many technologists face an escalating series of challenges, from innovating on relatively tight budgets to managing teams of remote employees. How are they faring in this complex environment?

According to a new study by CompTIA, the answer to that question is “fine.” Some 80 percent of technologists said they felt good about their current role, compared to the 19 percent who had mixed feelings (and the very tiny percentage who felt negatively). What’s driving that optimism? CompTIA has a chart for that:

In other words, technologists feel good about their leverage, given the demand out there for their skill sets. That demand can open up all kinds of opportunities, CompTIA’s report added: “As companies increasingly push the envelope of technology in order to gain competitive advantage, it opens the door wider for career mobility. That mobility doesn’t necessarily have to come from changing companies; organizations are showing more willingness to train their current workforce so that they retain institutional knowledge and ensure an exact skill match.”

Some 53 percent of technologists also felt they had the right budget for their plans, up from 40 percent in 2020. Nearly four in 10 think their budgets will increase yet again in 2022. In general, technologists would like to see this extra money invested in innovation and collaboration tools. Given the current demand for tech talent (and the time it takes to find and onboard new hires), companies may also turn to training their existing employees in the latest tools and techniques in order to quickly build up their technological prowess; a hefty chunk of operational budgets could go to everything from in-office tutoring to online classes. 

In a nice twist for technologists everywhere, Dice's latest Tech Job Report also reveals that demand is pretty evenly spread across industries, states, cities, and occupations—meaning that, no matter what your interest, chances are good there’s an appealing opportunity out there. Even if you have no intention of jumping from your current company, the trends suggest you could successfully petition your manager to pay for training and educational opportunities. What do you want to learn? 

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