8 Top Tech Skills to Hire For in 2024

Hiring is hard — no doubt.

Identifying the top technical skills that you should hire for is even harder.

But we’ve got your back. 

Based on the hiring trends we have seen on our HackerEarth Assessments platform, we made a list of the top technical skills you should be focusing on in 2024.

What are these tech skills? Keep reading to find out.

8 tech skills in high demand in 2024

Imagine you have a marketing degree but zero skills on how to create a marketing strategy. Would you be qualified for the marketing role? Nope. Similarly, if you don’t have these 8 top technical skills, you won’t be able to survive as a developer in 2024. 

Here are 8 technical skills you need to get your grip on in this coming year:

1. Java

Do you know Amazon is currently the most popular JDK vendor with 31.35% of the market? This is a mere example of how important Java as a skill currently is and how valuable it will be in the upcoming years. 

This is what a Redittor has to say about Java:

In a nutshell, Java is known for its platform independence and scalability. It continues to be a top choice for building robust and versatile applications. 

• Java has been a robust and versatile programming language with a strong ecosystem, widely used in enterprise-level applications.
• Android uses Java as one of its primary languages

Also, read: How to Assess a Java Developer Skills While Hiring

2. Logical Reasoning

Whether a dev is solving real-world problems or tackling a personal project, logical reasoning will help you understand how they analyze problems, break them down into smaller parts, and apply rules and principles to achieve the right solution.

Overall, logical reasoning is the bedrock of effective problem-solving. As a recruiter, you should prioritize candidates who not only possess technical expertise but also possess strong logical reasoning abilities. 

3. CSS

In the past few years, companies have moved digital — which has opened more doors for technology companies to create more technology products. With this comes another important part — designing websites for such companies. 

But with designing beautiful design comes a challenge: not being able to design responsive websites.

According to GoodFirms, 71% of web designers say they lack responsiveness with multiple devices — which is a top reason for customers to leave the website.

The good news is, you can avoid and eliminate this problem with the help of CSS. When an engineer has proficiency in CSS, they can not only create visually appealing websites but also understand the thought process of responsive website design, accessibility, and cross-browser compatibility. 

So, look for developers with knowledge of CSS to contribute to the creation of seamless and visually stunning user interfaces, enhancing overall user engagement and satisfaction.

4. Data Structures

Tech companies look for knowledge of Data Structured Algorithms (DS) when hiring employees because:

• Companies want developers who can choose the right algorithms to save company resources such as servers, computation power, and money.
• Developers have to write efficient code — which requires expertise in DSA.

As a recruiter, aim for candidates who can efficiently organize and manipulate data — as this skill is essential for optimizing algorithmic performance. 

To be able to incorporate DSA into your interview process, first, you must know the commonly used data structures:

• Array — it holds and indexes items of the same data type
• Linked lists — it organizes data into a linear, sequentially linked order
• Stacks — it allows programmers to access recently placed items first

Once you learn the different data structures, you can include them in your technical assessments and check for the DSA knowledge in tech candidates. 

5. C++

If you’re hiring backend developers, C++ is a must-have skill due to its high-performance computing and system-level programming. 

Organizations looking to build resource-intensive software, such as gaming engines or operating systems, should prioritize candidates with expertise in C++.

Also, read: The Complete Guide to Hiring a C++ Developer

6. JavaScript

JavaScript stands strong under the top 10 positions in the TIOBE Index Rating of 2023 with rank #6 in 2023.

Clearly, JavaScript remains the backbone of dynamic and interactive web applications. With frameworks like React and Angular, JavaScript has expanded its reach to both frontend and backend development. 

With proficiency in JavaScript, Devs can create responsive and feature-rich user interfaces and server-side applications.

When hiring a JavaScript developer, here are a few skills you should focus on: 

• Proficiency in core JavaScript — strong grasp of core concepts of the language including variables, data types, functions, control flow, and object-type programming
• Knowledge in front-end development — Understanding of HTML, CSS, and Document Object Model (DOM) to create interactive user interfaces
• Experience with popular front-end frameworks — Knowledge of React, Vue, and Angular 
• Familiarity with server-side programming — Knowledge of Node.js, Express.js, and database technologies

Also, read: 6 Best Practices to Design JavaScript Coding Challenges with APIs

7. Python

Big tech companies like Reddit, Amazon, Dropbox, Paypal, Pinterest, and Instagram (and many more) use Python. According to JetBrains State of Developer Ecosystem report, 27% of respondents showed their interest in learning Python compared to other programming languages like Java and JavaScript. 

Why? Python is more readable, versatile, and has extensive libraries. Developers well-versed in Python bring efficiency to tasks ranging from data analysis and machine learning to web development. The language’s simplicity and readability make it an excellent choice for rapid prototyping and development. 

Recruiters should prioritize candidates with Python skills, recognizing the language’s role in driving innovation across various domains.

8. C#

Whether the goal of your organization is mobile development, game development, web application, and service creation, or Microsoft and website application development — C# remains a preferred language. 

With its strong integration with the .NET framework, C# enables the creation of robust and scalable software solutions. So, recruiters should consider the demand for C# expertise, especially when hiring for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies.

Feeling confident to hire in 2024?

Whatever you’re hiring goals for 2024 may be, HackerEarth Assessments can help. Our skill-first platform helps you hire global developers through curated take-home coding tests that match your tech team’s needs. Over the last 11 years, we have helped more than 4000 companies find their purple unicorn through our branded hackathons, hiring challenges, and assessments. You could be next!

Happy hiring!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1. Which technical skills are most in demand in 2024?

Top technical skills that currently are and will continue to be in demand include:

1. Java
2. Python
3. CSS
4. C++,
5. C#

Q.2. Which technical skills are in demand in India?

According to The Economic Times, 3 technical skills in demand include Java Full Stack, Data Analytics, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

Kumari Trishya Author 51 Blogs