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InfoQ Homepage News Demand For Agile Skills Outstripping Supply

Demand For Agile Skills Outstripping Supply

 The demand for agile development skills is outstripping supply according to  two independent studies conducted in 2012 by CWJobs and Yoh IT and appears likely to continue in 2013. 

 CWJobs, a UK firm, sites the following trends permanent agile positions advertised in the UK and Irish information technology markets:
  • 2010 - 3,283 jobs.
  • 2011 - 5,767 jobs.
  • 2012 - 6,441 jobs.
 
Yoh IT, a US based information technology staffing firm with a worldwide presence, reported these figures:
 
  • Advertised agile jobs outnumbered candidates 4.59 to 1.
  • Some of the top job posters for agile over the last two years were:  Microsoft, Fidelity, Amazon.com, Hewlett Packard, and IBM.
  • The top three job titles requiring agile skills: java developer, software engineer and project manager.
  • Agile job postings = 558,198.
  • Active agile candidates = 121,876. 
  • The demand is not evenly spread.  It is highest in Washington, California, Oregon, Minnesota, New York and Massachusettes.

Some conclusions reached by these studies:

  • Contractors and consultants are in the best position to meet the skills shortage as companies increasingly turn outward to acquire the knowledge they lack internally.
  • Because the agile experienced talent pool is low relative to the demand, there is a high likelihood of recruiters getting a low quality agile candidate.
  • Adoption of agile methodologies has accelerted in the last half decade, but the training for front line developers has not kept pace.

 

 

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