Why These 10 IT Roles Are So Hard to Fill in 2026
Analytics Insight, Sunday, June 28th, 2026
Firms struggle to fill hybrid IT roles blending technical skill with AI fluency, governance, and business acumen.
The IT talent shortage has fundamentally shifted. Rather than struggling to hire specialists, companies now seek hybrid professionals who blend coding ability, AI platform expertise, risk assessment, and business alignment.
AI and machine learning roles share the top position with cybersecurity as the hardest positions to fill, followed by data science and automation specialists.
The industry is moving away from external hiring toward internal upskilling, as organizations invest in developing existing engineers into well-rounded professionals. This approach has proven faster, more cost-effective, and delivers better retention than competing for scarce hybrid talent externally.