Indeed, this change represents a development of the positions and the abilities needed for them rather than an indication of obsolescence.
Industry analysts state that for tech professionals to be relevant and marketable in the face of quickly evolving technology and changing traditional work categories, they must broaden their skill sets and adapt.
According to data compiled for Moneycontrol by specialized staffing company Xpheno, the active demand for some IT job roles has decreased by around 30–35 percent over the last two years, and their present demand is in the low two-digit numbers, despite the continued success of the Indian IT industry.
The position of desktop support engineer has seen the biggest decline in availability out of all, with a 10 percent decline in the pool of active talent seeking employment. This is followed by MIS executive (9%), Linux system administrator (7%), test engineer (6%), and customer support engineer (6%).
Indeed, this change represents a development of the positions and the abilities needed for them rather than an indication of obsolescence. For example, the requirement for specialized on-site support experts has decreased due to automation and cloud-based solutions. However, the position is changing to become more of a hybrid of cloud support specialist and IT generalist.
These days, Linux/UNIX-based computers have advanced to the same level as Windows systems, if not more so. With the growing popularity and maturity of Linux-based systems and servers, the role of the former Linux System Administrator has evolved into multifunction roles such as Server Administrator, Cloud Engineer, DevOps, Virtualization Engineers, etc., Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, told Moneycontrol.
The decline in demand for certain IT job roles amid automation and cloud-based solutions underscores the industry’s constant evolution. While some roles may see a decrease, opportunities emerge in the form of new, innovative positions. IT professionals equipped with a commitment to adaptability and a focus on upskilling will continue to play a pivotal role in the industry’s transformative journey.