It seems like a paradox: while an exponential increase in IT job opportunities is projected in the coming years, a growing number of companies are struggling to secure skilled, stable, and competitively capable workers.
In this article, we explore the so-called “Skills Gap” and discuss an unprecedented solution implemented to tackle it: turning to what we call “IT Mercenaries” or “Developer Outsourcing.”
THE IT TALENT CRISIS
The Info-Tech Research Group’s IT Talent Trends 2025 report highlighted several structural changes driven by recent technological advances, the new demands companies face, and shifts in work dynamics. One notable change is the widening skills gap.
According to the report, 95% of surveyed tech leaders believe that IT skills will evolve and additional competencies will be needed as technology advances and Software Development Careers Expand. Nonetheless, other studies suggest that the shortage of available skilled talent is already evident.
Furthermore, the TechTarget article 2025 Tech Job Outlook warns that this situation could result in a loss of up to $5.5 trillion and leave millions of potential jobs unfilled.
Picture by Mikael Blomkvist
STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS
The Skillsoft IT Skills & Salary Report reveals how hiring conditions and IT job retention have shifted over recent years. Last year, the focus was on retaining top talent and investing in their growth, while IT professionals concentrated on job security by upskilling and obtaining certifications. These strategies are employed to remain competitive and address the IT skills gap. Other strategies include:
- RESKILLING
- UPSKILLING / INTERNAL TRAINING
- CROSS-SKILLING
- HIRING
- BORDERLESS WORKERS
- OUTSOURCING
UPSKILLING y CROSS-SKILLING
According to the Linux Foundation, 48% of tech organizations prioritize enhancing internal and cross-functional qualifications and competencies to meet their demands before hiring new talent.
RESKILLING
Mercer’s Workforce 2.0 report underscores employees’ concerns about building new skills (and improving existing ones) in response to the challenge of fully harnessing technological potential and keeping pace with customer demands in a digitally transforming environment.
BORDERLESS WORKERS
More companies are embracing the “Borderless Talent” trend, prioritizing hiring employees based on their abilities rather than their nationality.
Picture by Matheus Bertelli
OUTSOURCING TALENT: IT MERCENARIES
Another strategy to tackle this issue is talent outsourcing. Some IT solutions and development companies have chosen to outsource part of their senior developer workforce as a means to forge business relationships, deliver digital solutions, and enhance their expertise by exposing their teams to new challenges and projects.
The outcomes of these initiatives have been very positive, offering significant long-term benefits for both the companies providing these talents, the developers themselves, and the businesses hiring their services.
Key attributes of these outsourced developers include their highly qualified technical skills, which are essential for building robust and valuable professional profiles.
WHAT ARE THE MOST SOUGHT‑AFTER SKILLS?
According to Forbes’ article Predictions for the Tech Job Market 2025, the most sought-after skills by employers are:
- Soft Skills: Communication, management, and leadership.
- Hybrid Skills: Planning, team collaboration, and project management.
- Hard Skills: Technical expertise in generative AI and data management. Other reports highlight a demand for programming languages like Python and scalable platforms like React and .Net.
HIRE REACT DEVELOPERS
One of the most sought-after profiles in outsourcing is React developers. This JavaScript library enables the creation of dynamic, high-performance web applications, accelerating development while ensuring scalability. With its component-based architecture, React allows for efficient UI updates, seamless integration with other frameworks, and a superior user experience. Hire React Developers to build interactive, fast, and scalable web applications that meet modern business demands.
HIRE .NET DEVELOPERS
.NET is widely used for developing applications that require high standards of security and scalability. It also allows businesses to handle increased volumes of data and users without compromising stability or performance. For this reason, companies in finance, healthcare, and corporate services actively hire .Net developers.
Picture by Antoni Shkraba
LEADING TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION: NURTURING TALENT AND STRENGTHENING TEAMS
In this article, we delve into the problem of the skills gap and its impact on organizational culture. Many companies are concerned about their ability to keep pace with the rapid advancement of technology and are deploying strategies to remain competitive without neglecting their most valuable asset—their talent.
Upskilling, reskilling, hiring, and outsourcing are the primary strategies. Outsourcing, in particular, offers a host of advantages: it streamlines the completion of large-scale development projects in record time, optimizes resource allocation, tracks specialized skills, and reduces the risks typically associated with traditional hiring.
