Is Silicon Valley’s talent shortage getting worse?
It sure looks like it from here. Already, 86 percent of surveyed recruiters and hiring managers say they struggle to find and hire technical talent. Now, there’s an exodus underway, fueled by unaffordable housing costs. Half of the area’s mid-career tech workers are seeking opportunities outside the Valley.
Unfortunately, Silicon Valley companies are about to need more tech talent, not less. Artificial intelligence investments are set to grow 300 percent this year, and that revolution won’t (yet) be built by robots. Those automation, machine learning, and other AI-related initiatives will require fresh, highly specialized tech talent. If it feels like a crunch now, just wait for what’s coming.
Hoping to beat the rush, forward-looking tech CEOs are picking up hiring efforts. Last summer, KPMG polled tech CEOs, finding that 95 percent of them expect to increase their head counts. Over the next few years, expect tech workforces to grow by an average of 6 percent.
Hiring has to happen. But if there’s anything Silicon Valley ought to have learned from the “dot-bomb” era, it’s that you can’t just throw resources at a problem and expect it to disappear. You have to hire thoughtfully. You need to know which skills will propel your mission and then hire people at the top of their respective fields.
The Valley’s Top Tech Skills
To help you plan your hiring initiatives, let’s look at Silicon Valley’s top five tech skills:
1. Python
With the rise of big data and, more recently, machine learning, data science is one of the hottest fields in tech. The great majority of those initiatives are built with Python, which offers a suite of data-centric tools and libraries to crunch numbers using underlying C and highly optimized FORTRAN. A high-level language with easy-to-read syntax, Python is great for desktop GUI applications and, thanks to tool kits such as Django, website back ends.
Often considered a “glue” language, Python now underlies much of Google’s and Facebook’s infrastructures. Dropbox runs almost entirely on Python, and giants like Reddit, Pinterest, Instagram, and many others were built with it. It’s also the language of data science.
Python is soaring in popularity among developers, having recently snagged second place behind only Java. To hire a Python professional, head over to the engaged Python.org community. Stack Overflow is also frequented by Python developers, with more than 750,000 questions about it on the site. The official Python job board and the SF Python Meetup are also great talent wells. Expect to shell out about $135,000 per year for a Python developer here in San Francisco.
2. Java
A mainstay for business applications, Java also powers everything from Android apps to desktop applications to embedded systems.
In San Francisco, the annual going rate for Java developers is about $83,000, but that’s trending upward. Java has become the language of choice for Internet of Things development, which is probably why tech giants from Amazon to Wells Fargo to Pinterest are currently recruiting for it.
If you’re thinking of hiring Java developers, let certifications light your way. Look for credentials like Certified Professional Java EE Web Component Developer, Certified Professional Java EE Business Component Developer, or Certified Professional Java ME Mobile Application Developer. The best place for meeting local Java talent is, in my opinion, San Francisco’s Java Meetup.
3. Linux
Linux is the operating system of the tech world. It’s the OS most developers use and the flagship of the open-source movement. Google even provides its staff with a version of Linux to use on their desktops called Goobuntu. Linux is also used by governmental organizations like NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense.
No wonder San Francisco’s Linux developers earn annual salaries averaging about $122,000 and Linux system administrators $104,000. They’re well worth it, too. Often, these workers supplement their Linux mojo with Python or other languages to keep things running smoothly.
There are, as with the other skills, large communities where you can meet certified Linux enthusiasts — and possible new hires. Check out events like LinuxCon and others run through the Linux Foundation. But if you’re looking for a Linux whiz, don’t delay. Players like Blackberry, Apple, Intuit, and Marketo were seen fishing for them online this spring.
4. JavaScript
JavaScript is only important if you think the web is important. It’s still the clear choice for writing front-end code for interactive websites. Frameworks such as AngularJS, React, and Ember.js have amassed major followings. But JavaScript isn’t confined to the front end. More than ever, JavaScript can be found in back-end applications, too, with tools like Node.js and Express.js.
In fact, there are so many JavaScript frameworks that it’s difficult to keep up. Staying in the loop is important, so maintain a presence at any of the many get-togethers in the area, such as JavaScript conferences.
If you do meet developers for hire, remember that they’re in demand, with SAP, Mozilla, and eBay, among others, seeking to lure them in. They don’t come cheap, either, with an average yearly San Francisco salary of about $134,000.
5. SQL
SQL, or Standard Query Language, is the language of relational databases. Ensuring your team understands how to utilize databases with SQL — efficiently and, most importantly, securely — should be a top priority.
It’s remarkable how often one hears about SQL injection attacks. Despite being trivially easy to prevent (and famously parodied), they continue to plague big organizations. Recent victims range from U.K. telecom TalkTalk to the Illinois Board of Elections.
It’s for good reason, then, that SQL developers make an average of about $102,000 here in the Valley. Many developers work in multiple frameworks, such as MySQL, Oracle, and SQLite. A recent search showed that Yelp, Intuit, Wells Fargo, LexisNexis, and many others are after SQL talent. If you’re interested, start looking at Stack Overflow. The Microsoft Developer Network and SQL Server Central are also common hangouts for database administrators.
The talent wars have been raging for years in Silicon Valley, and they’re about to become even bloodier. So no matter what you’re working on — AI, IoT, or another innovation — start stocking your staff today. Shortages loom, and the wheels won’t turn without talent.
