Although hiring is expected to increase in the first half of 2016, many critical technology positions will remain in high demand, according to the January Dice Report. In particular, appetite for tech professionals with security expertise continues to rise; it now ranks third on the below list of Most Challenging Talent to Hire, which is based on employer responses to the Dice Hiring Survey: 
(Click here for an in-depth slideshow that sums up these hard-to-hire jobs.)
Topping the list is software developers, a critical role in any company developing technology systems. Because they are in high demand, software developers may also be harder for employers to retain. The best software professionals want to lead creative and innovative projects, and hiring managers (as well as everyday managers) will need to ensure that such opportunities are available. As previously mentioned, security roles rank in the top three in terms of importance. Gartner predicted that global spending on information security would reach $75.4 billion in 2015. With security breaches and information hacks appearing almost daily in the news, it’s clear that companies need to shore up their security practices with the right talent. Dice job postings for security professionals are growing year-over-year, with engineer positions up 22 percent and network security jobs up 19 percent. Demand for mobile technology is also growing as more and more companies seek to translate Web to mobile and build mobile apps from the ground up. Mobile developers and tech professionals are a critical part of this ecosystem, and the demand for these types of jobs reflects the importance of their role. The environment for tech positions is incredibly competitive, underlining the challenge in filling roles and retaining talent. Our recent survey of technology professionals found that salary and position are critical incentives, but aspects of job satisfaction such as housing, transit and work-life balance are also important. Once you’re able to hire talent for these top roles, focusing on these areas of satisfaction will not only benefit one person. Social recruiting is increasingly important for companies, and if your developers are happy and excited, they’ll spread the word—to the right people. Bob Melk President, Dice