IT Career Trends

Think you know what it takes to land an IT Project Manager role in 2025? Think again. I analyzed 164 real job postings across the U.S. and Canada. The results paint a clear—and unexpected—picture of what hiring managers actually want in 2025. If you're aiming to land a more strategic or better-paying IT PM role, this might change your approach. Here's what the market is really asking for 👇 ▶️ The Role Looks the Same on Paper, But It's Not IT Project Manager can mean: • Leading cybersecurity transformations • Migrating cloud platforms without breaking production • Managing AI/ML systems nobody understands yet • Running ERP upgrades that touch every department ✔️ If your resume sounds generic, you're invisible. You need to show domain expertise and business impact. ▶️ Where the Real Opportunities Are Forget "tech companies." Everyone's hiring IT PMs now: • Healthcare (digital transformation) • Finance (legacy modernization) • Government (security overhauls) • Consulting (client rescues) ✔️ They don't want template followers. They want PMs who can navigate chaos without a playbook. ▶️ The Remote Dream Is Dying • 53% hybrid • 27% on-site • 20% remote ✔️Translation: If you're banking on remote-only, you're fishing in a shrinking pond. ▶️ Salary Benchmarks (U.S.-Weighted) • Typical range: $106K–$159K • Senior/specialized roles: $160K–$299K • Canadian salaries: Align proportionally with mid-to-senior U.S. roles ▶️ What Skills Are in Demand? ✔️ Hard Skills: • Agile (49%) – table stakes • Cybersecurity (42%) – the new gold • Infrastructure (30%) – servers, networks, IT systems • Cloud: Azure (13%), AWS (9%) – adoption still growing • Tools: Jira, Confluence, DevOps, SDLC, ERP (SAP) • AI/ML projects: 16% – trend to watch • DevOps & CI/CD – often mentioned alongside Agile • ERP expertise – strong in enterprise transformation roles 🧠 Tech literacy is no longer optional—it's a positioning advantage. Knowing how these systems drive value is what separates the top 10%. ✔️ Certifications: • PMP (51%) • Scrum Master (11%) • Others: ITIL, AWS, CISSP—rarely required, but can complement your story ✔️ Soft Skills • Communication (77%) • Leadership (72%) • Stakeholder management (33%) • Collaboration, adaptability, strategic thinking ▶️ Strategic Takeaways 1- Generic PMs are getting filtered out. If your resume reads like a task list, you're losing interviews to PMs who speak in outcomes and impact. 2- Certifications alone don't differentiate you. The PMP signals credibility. But what closes offers is context, how you applied what you know to drive real change. 3- IT PMs must specialize. Same title, wildly different expectations. You must position yourself by domain—cloud, infra, cybersecurity, SaaS, ERP—not just by title. 📌 Ready to position yourself for a high-impact IT PM role in 2025? → Go to the top comment and apply to work with me 1:1. → Repost ♺ to help others in your network. Follow Jesus Romero for weekly PM career strategies.

New Model & Jobs for IT Industry. I see two trends emerging that will shape the future of IT Industry in next 2-3 years. There are both opportunities & threats and hence IT companies & professionals who will strategise & make the shift will succeed. 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬: 1. 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬:  It’s clear that going forward customers won’t pay for software or innovation alone. They would demand tangible outcomes & measurable results. 2. 𝐀𝐈 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:  Artificial Intelligence, once a differentiator, will soon become a hygiene factor. IT companies will have to rethink their strategies around AI. 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐓 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬: 1. 𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 Product companies should focus on either creating intelligent Agents to automate workflows & drive customer outcomes or developing cost-efficient infrastructure to host, manage & scale AI driven workflows & agents. 2. 𝐀𝐈 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞: There’s also a growing opportunity to build & operate platforms where businesses can buy, sell, or share AI models, solutions, and services. 3. 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 #𝐎𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Services companies have huge potential if they build capabilities to deliver outcomes by replacing existing workflows with agentic workflows. They can create niche as 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢��𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 (industry-focused) or 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 (tech-focused) on AI, Data & Automation. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 In near term, economic volatility, outsourcing shifts, inflation, and "nation-first" policies will disrupt traditional markets & companies will have to accelerate their focus on new markets like Africa, the Middle East, & India. Secondly, the days of long-term contracts & big-ticket deals are over. IT companies will have to get ready for shorter engagements with reduced hourly rates, emphasizing efficiency & outcomes over duration. They need to adopt new outcome metrics & results driven billing. 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬: I see the following new roles will emerge and will be in demand. 1.    AI Automation Specialists:Designing, implementing & optimising AI-driven solutions replacing existing workflows to address specific business challenges. 2.    AI Agent Specialists:Developing, deploying & managing autonomous agents. 3.    Outcome Architects & Engineers:Specialists who design & deliver #OaaS solutions tailored to business needs. 4.    Orchestrators:Specialists who will blend domain expertise & technical know-how, coordinating complex systems to deliver seamless results. 5.     Dynamic Pricing Specialists:Deep technology experts who will use AI to continuously adjust pricing based on new developments to offer cost-optimised Opex. However regardless of role or industry, ability to use & collaborate with #AI will be an essential skill of the future. What’s your perspective? Let’s discuss in the comments!

Are store openings making a comeback, or is the future still digital? After years of predictions that physical stores were finished, 2025 is telling a different story. According to CBRE, store openings in the US actually outpaced closures in 2024, with net growth led by value retailers, specialty food, and experience-focused concepts. In the GCC, new mall expansions and pop-up activations remain on the rise, with UAE retail sales projected to reach $63.6 billion by 2025 (Dubai Chamber of Commerce). Why the shift? Consumers want more than transactions. From Gen Z to Boomers, shoppers are seeking experiences, whether it’s in-store events, live demonstrations, or interactive tech. Gen Z is surprisingly pro-physical: A 2024 NRF study found that 81% of Gen Zers prefer to shop in stores for fashion and beauty, valuing instant gratification, social interaction, and immersive brand storytelling. Millennials still drive online spending but now use stores for pick-up, returns, and brand discovery. Older generations favor physical for trust and service, but even they are using retailer apps for loyalty and convenience. E-commerce sales, on the other hand, continue double-digit growth, especially in categories like electronics, home, and health. “Hybrid” shopping, think click-and-collect, QR code browsing, and virtual store assistants, is becoming the new norm. Is this retail renaissance a sustainable shift or simply a response to post-pandemic fatigue and novelty? As customer expectations evolve, the future may belong to brands that blend the best of both worlds. How has your own shopping behavior changed? Are you visiting stores more, and what’s drawing you in? For retailers, what’s actually working to get people off their phones and into physical space? Share your thoughts, stories, or predictions for the future of retail. #retailtrends #consumerinsight #shopping #storeexperience #futureofretail

Following up on our report on the US tech hiring freeze, I turned to the Canadian tech job posting data. Most of the trends are VERY similar: - CA tech job postings have been depressed since mid-2023, starting their plunge, following an earlier boom, in mid-2022 (chatGPT released right in the middle of the crash). - Mid-paying developer roles (web, Frontend, .NET, ios, etc) and software engineers are down most. AI-related tech titles (like MLE's), and senior-level titles are faring better. - While conditions are rough for job seekers, the number of Canadians actually working in tech jobs remains quite elevated despite plateauing since 2022. If there's one more notable contrast, it's that Canada's tech postings decline since 2020 (-19%) has been somewhat milder than the US's (-34%) AND other advanced economies (like the UK and France). The tech hiring freeze is global! https://lnkd.in/etFk7mje

The hospitality industry is heading into a decade of serious transformation. These aren’t just trends. They are structural shifts that will reshape how kitchens operate, how teams are led, and what it takes to stay relevant. After 30 years in professional kitchens, I’ve seen a lot change. But what’s coming now is different. This time, survival will depend on our ability to adapt. Labor shortages are not temporary. The next generation of chefs expects more from leadership balance, respect, purpose. The old-school mentality of burning out your team to prove toughness no longer works, and it never really did. Kitchens that don’t evolve their culture will struggle to attract and retain talent. Technology is becoming part of every kitchen. Inventory systems, prep automation, data-driven costing these tools aren’t gimmicks. They’re the new standard. If it helps you run a more efficient, consistent, and profitable operation, it matters. Sustainability will no longer be optional. Guests notice waste. So do investors. From how we source to how we manage scraps, kitchens will be held accountable. Ingredient costs aren’t the only thing at stake reputation is on the line. Leadership models are changing. Chefs are no longer just the strongest cook on the line. They are mentors, culture-setters, problem-solvers. The loudest voice in the room isn’t always the most effective. Respect is no longer earned through intimidation it’s built through consistency, fairness, and clarity. Menus are tightening. The idea that more items means more value is outdated. Smart menus are seasonal, streamlined, and built for quality over quantity. Precision matters more than variety. The industry isn’t dying. It’s evolving. And that evolution is an opportunity for better kitchens, better careers, and better food. To those of us who have been in it for decades: we have to lead this change, not resist it. And to those just starting: you have a real chance to help define what the next decade of hospitality looks like.

If you want a sense for what's in store for restaurants in 2025, have a look at what the two most successful, innovative QSR brands are doing today (screenshot below). We ended 2024 on a note of cautious optimism - folks saw traffic and sales go positive after 8 months of bad news, discounting, and bankruptcies. While it's clear trends are moving in the right direction, there is still a lot of work ahead for restaurants to win back the the hearts and minds of a consumer base that's still grappling with the effects of inflation. In times like these, I reflect back on the lessons I learned from the myriad conversations we had with restaurant leaders over the last 6 months: 1️⃣ Find innovative, non-obvious ways to squeeze out costs while also improving the guest experience. It's the little things - like moving from ramekins to sauce packets - that free up your team to spend more time engaging guests while also reducing packaging costs. James McGehee at Dave's Hot Chicken 2️⃣ Double-down on fast growing channels to supplement revenue growth. Catering is back and will be a larger growth driver in 2025. Invest in the menu, tools, and team to seize the opportunity. Jessica Serrano at DIG. 3️⃣ In an era where new guest traffic is fickle / hard to come by, relentlessly focus on optimizing guest retention. We've seen one brand leverage data to achieve +22% increase in orders from repeat guests, offsetting a MSD decline in new guest traffic over the course of 2024. 🥪 Deric Rosenbaum at Groucho's Deli 4️⃣ Casual dining can still differentiate on service and quality. With inflation and the rise of delivery, the lines are blurring between QSR, fast casual, and casual dining. But casual dining brands still have something that the other sectors don't: experience. Make service and experience part of your guest's "value equation" - and market to that differentiation - to maintain positive comps. Ricky Richardson at Eggs Up Grill 5️⃣ Bridge the gap between marketing and tech. The restaurant consumer experience is increasingly digital, and it's clear that a) marketing and tech need to be increasingly collaborative to seize the opportunity; b) you need an expert who can map the digital guest journey and optimize for conversion in more crowded / noisy digital world; c) the experience between offline and online engagement with your brand / food needs to be seamless. Scott Landers, P.E. at Figure 8 6️⃣ Merchandising, merchandising, merchandising. Value is not just about price. it's cost + speed + experience. To optimize for value, be intentional with how you set prices and the amount of choice you give consumers in engaging with you. If needed, limit modifiers, comment boxes, even the menu itself to the items that best fit the guest needs and cost profile associated with a particular channel. Jared Cohen at Protein Bar & Kitchen. These are just a handful of lessons I learned in the close to 2024. Excited for what 2025 brings for the industry.

Retail is changing fast and big brands are disappearing. But that doesn’t mean retail is dying. It’s evolving. Shopping centers are being reimagined. And the tenants moving in look very different from the ones moving out. Here are six trends I’m seeing up close: 1. Medtail is growing.     Wellness clinics, IV drip centers, and cosmetic dermatology offices are leasing retail space. In high-income areas, healthcare is going retail.     2. Pet services are booming.     Doggy daycares like Dogtopia and K9 Resorts are filling vacancies left by traditional tenants. 70% of U.S. households have pets and landlords are taking notice.     3. Ethnic grocers are scaling.     Chains like H-Mart and Jagalchi are replacing big-box stores and Rite Aids. They’re buying real estate and serving diverse communities hungry for authentic global food.     4. E-commerce brands are going physical.     Wayfair, Amazon, and others are opening showrooms and stores. Digital-first companies are betting big on in-person experiences.     5. Resale is in.     Secondhand stores like Buffalo Exchange are gaining ground. Driven by Gen Z, sustainability, and economic pressure, resale is mainstream now.     6. Kid-focused tenants are expanding.     Swim schools like Goldfish and Big Blue are taking large retail footprints. Modern parents want life skills, not just playtime.     What’s the takeaway? Retail isn’t just about shopping anymore. It’s about wellness, pets, culture, and connection. The best shopping centers today feel less like malls and more like community hubs.

There’s a quiet transformation underway that deserves louder conversation. What’s shaping the future of retail isn’t a single trend; it’s the collision of economic pressure, population migrations, generational values, and evolving customer expectations. And it’s happening now. -Average U.S. home prices are up 28% since 2020—now $436,800 vs. $420,800 just four years ago—while incomes have only risen ~5%, putting major pressure on discretionary spending. -Over 4 million people have relocated out of high-cost states since the pandemic, often into secondary markets with fewer high-end retail footprints, forcing a rethink on where stores belong. -The U.S. birth rate has fallen to 1.62, well below the 2.1 replacement rate. Fewer births mean a long-term decline in demand for categories like diapers, kidswear, toys, and even back-to-school. -Nearly 25% of U.S. children now live in single-parent households. This often means tighter time, money, and convenience needs, factors that shape everything from store format to marketing tone. -3,200+ stores closed or repositioned in Q1 2024 alone, a reflection of shifting traffic patterns, channel mix, and misaligned store strategies. -Gen Z and Gen Alpha (the youngest shoppers) are digitally native, purpose-driven, and more skeptical of traditional retail tactics. Winning their loyalty will look very different from what it did with millennials. None of this is cause for panic, but it is cause for reinvention. Retailers that will lead in this new era are already taking action: -Rethinking their real estate strategy—where people live, not where they used to shop -Investing in talent at all levels, store teams, buyers, planners, digital, and supply chain -Delivering value propositions built around current customer realities: affordability, convenience, sustainability, and community -Treating strategy like a living document, not a dusty playbook A smart merchant once told me, “The brands in trouble are the ones looking in the rearview mirror.” Replication is not a strategy. We are at a fork in the road, and as Yogi Berra said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” The only question is: Which direction moves your business forward? These are curious times, and I would be interested in hearing thoughts on how to move a business forward, finding success, and remaining relevant with the customer. Kevin Finnegan kfinnegan@grnlowcountry.com www.grnlowcountry.com

In retail and F&B, hybrid concepts are redefining how we shop, eat, and connect. One of my favorite examples is CornerShop in London, a space that blends an organic grocery with a café, while also acting as a live innovation lab for the future of retail. CornerShop is divided into four zones: Automated Store – frictionless shopping Augmented Store – immersive digital experiences Purposeful Store – sustainability and community focus Personalised Store – data-driven customer journeys This is what we call a grocerant: a hybrid of grocery + restaurant. It’s a model that’s gaining momentum globally as consumers look for convenience, healthier choices, and engaging spaces that go beyond traditional retail. Some inspiring global examples include: Eataly (Italy, US, Middle East) – a marketplace that combines fresh groceries, artisanal products, cooking classes, and multiple restaurants under one roof. Dean & DeLuca (New York, Bangkok, Middle East) – a gourmet grocery-meets-café concept offering premium products alongside ready-to-eat meals. Amazon Go (US, UK) – automated convenience stores with grab-and-go meals and groceries, powered by “just walk out” technology. 7-Eleven Evolution Stores (US) – blending convenience retail with in-store dining, coffee bars, and even craft beer on tap. Carrefour Bio Café (France) – organic grocery shopping combined with a café serving healthy, sustainable meals. Muji Diner (Japan, China) – the minimalist retailer extending its lifestyle brand into groceries and casual dining. I believe this model has strong potential in Doha especially in destinations that bring together workplaces, government entities, residents, and retailers. A hub like this could provide convenience, foster community, and showcase innovation in one place. The future of retail is not about choosing between shopping or dining, it’s about integrating them into a single, engaging ecosystem. #Retail #Tourism #destination #innovation