IT decision makers in the US plan more hiring in the first half of 2020, but hiring challenges persist, according to a survey from Robert Half Technology. 

The survey found 69% anticipate expanding their team in the next six months, up two points from a similar survey for the second half of 2019.

Nearly all IT managers polled, 96%, plan to bring on interim professionals. Of those, 60% say hiring project-based IT employees is part of their overall staffing strategy and 58% will look to temporary staff if a role becomes vacant and isn’t filled quickly.

“Savvy organizations are shifting their hiring strategy given the growing demand for IT professionals and adapting to the increasing challenges brought on by talent shortages,” said John Reed, an executive VP with Robert Half.

Survey respondents cited these skills as immediately needed for their organizations:

1. Cybersecurity 

2. Cloud (computing, security, architecture)  

3. Business intelligence and reporting services

4. Database management

5. DevOps  

Houston is the metropolitan area expected to see the most hiring with 82% of tech leaders expanding their teams, followed by Miami at 80%. Austin, Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina, were next at 77% each.

The survey includes responses from more than 2,800 IT decision makers in 28 major US markets.