Technology hiring in Atlanta is expected to start strong in 2018, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. Twenty-six percent of CIOs surveyed here said they plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams in the first half of the new year, up 12 percentage points from a year ago. In addition to hiring plans, the report also highlights technology skills in demand and CIOs' top priorities for the first six months of the year.

"In the coming year, big data, business intelligence, security and cloud will continue to be important growth areas in Atlanta for strategic business initiatives," said David Sheehan, branch manager for Robert Half Technology in Atlanta. "Employers within the healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, travel, finance and logistics fields are creating opportunities for database administration and analysis talent, as well as help desk professionals. We have even seen some robotics process automation projects take off more recently."

Top 12 Cities for Tech Hiring in 2018 
In addition to the forecasted 26 percent hiring growth, 56 percent of technology leaders here expect to maintain staff levels by filling vacant roles. The demand for talent places Atlanta on the list of U.S. cities where tech hiring is expected to grow the most in the first half of 2018:

1. San Diego

2. Atlanta

3. New York

4. Austin, Texas

5. Charlotte, North Carolina

6. Minneapolis

7. Philadelphia

8. Des Moines, Iowa

9. Miami

10. Cleveland

11. Phoenix

12. Salt Lake City

Hiring Challenges and Skills in Demand
It continues to be a competitive hiring environment: 60 percent of CIOs in Atlanta said that it's challenging to find skilled IT professionals in today's market. The skills in greatest demand within their organizations, according to respondents, include:  

1. Cybersecurity (51 percent)

2. Database management (51 percent)

3. Web development/website design (46 percent)

Top Priorities 
When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, 29 percent of Atlanta CIOs said they will be focused on upgrading existing systems for business efficiency. Other priorities will include: 

• Innovation and helping to grow their businesses (21 percent)

• Maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information (20 percent)

• Staff retention (17 percent)

• Technology innovation and investing in new technologies (14 percent)