Top 10 IT Skills to Watch in 2026: Insights from CIO Korea
As industries increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies, the demand for IT skills is rapidly evolving. According to a recent analysis by CIO Korea, companies are prioritizing new technical competencies to navigate the shifting landscape. This article highlights the top 10 IT skills that are expected to see the highest increase in demand through 2026. AI Dominates Skill Demand Growth
The rise of generative AI is reshaping corporate AI strategies and consequently the IT talent market. Organizations are focusing hiring and development efforts on professionals with AI expertise. A report from Indeed, the 2025 Tech Talent Report, identified software engineers, QA engineers, product managers, and project managers as key roles most impacted by AI-driven restructuring.
Job postings requiring AI skills surged dramatically—from over 5 million listings in 2024 to an increase of more than 4 million in 2025 alone. Even candidates outside traditional tech roles are now expected to have foundational knowledge in prompt engineering, natural language processing, and AI-assisted coding.
Python Remains a Versatile Language in High Demand
Python continues to be an essential programming language across multiple domains including data analysis, web and software development, scientific computing, and machine learning model construction. Diverse IT roles—software developers, data scientists, ML engineers, cloud engineers, cyber security analysts—commonly require Python proficiency. The number of job postings citing Python rose from approximately 15 million in 2024 to nearly 18 million in 2025, underscoring its critical role despite the growing use of AI in coding.
Algorithms and Advanced Problem-Solving Skills Gain Prominence
With AI automating many basic programming tasks, companies increasingly seek experts capable of designing and supervising efficient algorithms that drive AI systems. Job postings demanding algorithmic skills jumped from about 180,000 in 2024 to over 2 million in 2025. This reflects a shift toward hiring professionals with deep database knowledge, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving abilities essential for high-level AI control.
CI/CD Expertise Essential for Software Lifecycle Efficiency
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) skills are now vital for streamlining software development in AI-enhanced environments. Professionals adept in automation, scripting, containerization, cloud integration, and automated testing are in greater demand, with postings rising from just under 7 million in 2024 to over 9 million in 2025. Dominant Cloud Platform Skills: Google Cloud and AWS
Google Cloud expertise is increasingly sought-after as more organizations migrate vital services and AI data workloads to cloud infrastructures. Job listings requiring Google Cloud skills grew from around 3.5 million in 2024 to more than 5.3 million in 2025. Similarly, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the market-leading cloud platform, remains a critical competency for numerous IT roles including cloud engineers, DevOps professionals, solution architects, and security analysts. AWS skill demand rose from about 12 million job postings in 2024 to over 13.7 million in 2025. Analytical Thinking and Cybersecurity Priorities Intensify
As AI handles routine tasks, IT professionals must apply stronger analytical judgment to detect AI inaccuracies or “hallucinations,” particularly in data-critical roles. Analytical skill requirements increased from just under 19 million postings to over 21 million between 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, cybersecurity skills are increasingly indispensable due to expanded attack surfaces created by AI integration and digital transformation. Cybersecurity-related job demands climbed from 2.4 million postings in 2024 to more than 4 million in 2025, focusing on defending AI-powered environments and combating sophisticated threats.
Software Troubleshooting Remains a Human Imperative
Despite AI’s role in coding and scripting, identifying defects, security vulnerabilities, and anomalies remains reliant on skilled IT experts. Job postings emphasizing software problem-solving skills edged up from 9 million in 2024 to nearly 11 million in 2025. This area requires strong communication, critical thinking, and technical expertise.
Machine Learning Expertise Underpins AI Expansion
Machine learning (ML) is central to AI development, demanding high proficiency in specialized techniques including natural language processing. The need for ML-skilled professionals increased from 3.7 million job postings in 2024 to over 5 million in 2025. Organizations actively seek talent capable of supporting, sustaining, and advancing AI systems.
Conclusion
As the AI wave transforms business operations and IT infrastructures, professionals aspiring to excel in technology careers must adapt by cultivating these key skills. Companies prioritize expertise not only in AI but also in programming, cloud platforms, security, analytics, and software lifecycle management. Staying current with these competencies will be crucial for IT talent navigating the evolving digital economy in 2026 and beyond.
For continued insights into technology trends and workforce demands, following CIO Korea’s analysis and the work of senior writers such as Sarah White is highly recommended.
