Senior managers plan to add more tech talent in the second half of 2018 as security, cloud and digital projects in US companies expand, according to research released by Robert Half Technology. Sixty percent of IT hiring decision-makers surveyed plan to expand the size of their teams between now and the end of the year.

The top cities adding to their tech teams are:

1. Miami
2. Detroit
3. Los Angeles
4. Phoenix, Ariz.
5. Charlotte, NC

When asked to describe their top concerns, keeping IT systems and company information safe ranked first, followed by investing in new technologies, upgrading business systems for efficiency, and innovation. Further, tech leaders in 21 of the 26 major metropolitan areas included in the study listed security as their biggest priority, after recruitment.

The top in-demand skills are:

1. Cybersecurity
2. Cloud security
3. Cloud computing
4. Cloud architecture
5. Business intelligence

“Business needs surrounding security, cloud and digital transformation are outpacing the supply of talent, and technology leaders are facing difficulties staffing open roles,” said Jeff Weber, executive director of Robert Half Technology. “Employers should be discerning about what skills are must-haves versus what can be trained for on the job and move quickly with offers when they meet strong candidates.”

Additionally, the survey found tech professionals seem willing to relocate for opportunities. Most respondents, 81%, see more tech workers moving to their cities for career opportunities. The top five cities where senior managers plan to staff up their tech teams are:

1. Dallas
2. Seattle
3. San Francisco
4. Houston
5. Miami

The online survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. The report is based on responses from more than 2,600 senior managers in 26 major US markets. All respondents have hiring authority for the information systems or IT department of a company and were asked to provide a six-month hiring outlook.

IT workers with the right skills are in high demand, but SIA research has found the median hourly wage for all US computer occupations grew 2.1% year over year in the most recent data available, May 2016. More information on IT recruiting will be in the July/August issue of Staffing Industry Review magazine, available the week of July 23.