New Research Shows Most Desired IT Skills Worldwide

New research from CompTIA shows the top 10 skills that are desired among IT professionals. The study surveyed more than 3,500 IT professionals from around the world. For established countries like the United States, security was by far the most important skill requested, and the skill most likely to be lacking.

Another important category for U.S.-based companies is soft skills, such as customer service, project management, communication and administration. While 52 percent considered these important skills, only 41 percent said their employees were proficient at these skills.

No. 1: Security/Firewall/Data Privacy
74% of respondents deem security/firewall/data privacy skills to be most important.

57% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 2: General Networking/Network Infrastructure
66% of respondents deem general networking/network infrastructure skills most important.

59% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 3: Operating System
66% of respondents deem operating system skills (Linux, Windows XP, Vista and so on) most important.

65% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 4: Hardware
57% of respondents deem hardware skills/knowledge (printers, PCs and so on) most important.

60% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 5: Nonspecific Server Technology
57% of respondents deem skills in nonspecific server technology (including database, storage, maintenance and administration) most important.

49% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 6: Soft Skills
56% of respondents deem soft skills (such as customer service, sales, project management and communication) most important.

45% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 7: Application Level
54% of respondents deem application-level skills (such as architecture, design, development, programming and integration) most important.

47% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 8: Specific Programming Languages
40% of respondents deem skills in specific programming languages most important.

40% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills.

No. 9: Web-Based Technologies
40% of respondents deem Web-based technologies (such as Web 2.0, service-oriented architecture, software as a service, rich Internet applications and AJAX) most important.

34% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skill

No. 10: RF Mobile/Wireless
27% of respondents deem RF (radio frequency) mobile/wireless skills most important.

26% of respondents report that staff is proficient in these skills