Want a tech job in South Florida? You’re going to need a very specific set of skills
South Florida businesses are hungry for tech talent — but you’re going to need the right type of experience to land the job, according to the latest annual survey from ITPalooza, an annual gathering of IT professionals, educators and companies.
The annual poll finds just 56% of firms surveyed said they intend to hire in the coming year or are considering it, down from 91% last year. At the same time, 54% surveyed said they believe there are adequate information technology opportunities in South Florida, the lowest level in at least three years.
“When companies are in pain, the person they want to fix that pain is a senior person,” said Alex Funkhouser, founder of ITPalooza and president of TechLauderdale, an organization that promotes the growth, connectivity, and awareness of the thriving technology ecosystem in Greater Ft. Lauderdale
“What so many companies are challenged by is the junior-level resource — they can’t just step in and be productive.”
The poll comes in advance of this year’s ITPalooza event. It’s slated for Thursday at the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the programs, expo and closing remarks run until 5:50 p.m. The VIP After-Party and cocktail reception go from 5:50 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Featured programming includes speakers from Magic Leap, Royal Caribbean and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and a panel on filling the tech talent gap. Newly named TechLauderdale CEO Cecil Kidd will also be on hand. Previously, Kidd was campus president of Keiser University’s College of Advanced Technology in Pembroke Pines and executive director of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges.
Funkhouser said concerns about the economy, as well as outsourcing tech tasks, have become more commonplace and may be weighing on hiring decisions.
Among the bright spots for tech labor demand is cybersecurity, the poll found. About 150 businesses and individuals were surveyed.
“Massive cyberattacks by sophisticated cyber criminals [are requiring] stronger corporate defenses,” Funkhouser said.
More information can be found at www.itpalooza.org.
