Trend Watch

Are tech jobs making a comeback? After a year of relatively flat hiring, tech job postings have seen a significant increase throughout the first half of the year. In this episode of Trend Watch, Seth Robinson explores what's driving the surge and what it means for employers, IT professionals, career changers, and anyone watching the technology workforce. Seth breaks down the two major forces behin...

AI may be dominating headlines and boardroom conversations, but is it causing organizations to overlook other critical workforce challenges? In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson explores new findings from CompTIA's Workforce and Learning Trends research, revealing how employers are balancing the demand for AI skills with broader technology skill gaps, employee development, and workforce pl...

The pressure to build a skilled workforce has never been higher — but are organizations actually following through? In this episode of CompTIA TrendWatch, Senior Director of Research Seth Robinson walks through highlights from CompTIA's newly released Workforce and Learning Trends report. This year's research expanded its scope to include IT leaders alongside HR and learning and development profes...

Technology hiring is evolving around the world, but some trends remain surprisingly consistent. In this episode of CompTIA TrendWatch, Seth Robinson explores new workforce data from the EMEA and APAC regions, uncovering how tech hiring patterns compare to the United States. From software and cybersecurity roles to the growing importance of skills-based hiring, this conversation examines how organi...

Every time there's a tech layoff, the headlines spiral. But are technology jobs actually in trouble? CompTIA's Seth Robinson breaks down the recurring narratives around tech employment — from big company layoffs to AI fears — and separates the myth from the data. CompTIA's monthly Tech Jobs Report tells a different story than the headlines. Tech job postings have increased every month so far in 20...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, but how much of the workforce is actually using it in meaningful ways? In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson breaks down key findings from CompTIA's latest research on AI awareness, familiarity, and real-world usage. While headlines suggest rapid adoption, the reality across industries tells a more nuanced story. This episode explores three critical in...

In this episode of CompTIA's TrendWatch, Seth Robinson breaks down key insights from the newly released State of the Tech Workforce report, one of CompTIA's most comprehensive annual analyses of the U.S. tech landscape. The discussion explores projected growth in tech occupations, the distinction between tech industry jobs and tech roles across all sectors, and what recent data reveals about hirin...

In this episode of Trend Watch, Seth Robinson breaks down why workforce pipelines are becoming a critical priority for organizations navigating today's tech talent landscape. While artificial intelligence has dominated headlines, the real challenge runs deeper. Companies are struggling to build sustainable pathways that develop talent from entry level to expert. For years, organizations have leane...

In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson explores the growing impact of automation on modern business operations. While artificial intelligence receives much of the public attention, automation is often the technology that produces the most immediate and measurable changes inside organizations. Automation allows companies to streamline workflows, reduce manual processes, and improve overall pr...

In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson discusses the increasing importance of data practices for businesses aiming to meet strategic objectives. He highlights the challenges companies face in improving their data management, including organizational and skill-related issues. The conversation emphasizes the need for companies to invest in training for data specialists and to enhance digital f...

Join host Seth Robinson for the next episode of our 2026 outlook series on Trend Watch. In this episode, we examine why cybersecurity continues to grow in scale and complexity, and why training must evolve to keep up with the changing threat landscape  As organizations expand their digital footprint, security is no longer confined to traditional IT boundaries. Privacy remains the top strategic dri...

Join host Seth Robinson for the first episode of our 2026 outlook series on Trend Watch. In this episode, we move past the headlines and the "bubble" rhetoric to explore how Artificial Intelligence will genuinely influence the technology workforce and business landscape this year. Seth breaks down the "tale of two AIs" currently creating tension in the market: the rapid adoption of AI as an indivi...

As we wrap up the year, CompTIA's Seth Robinson dives into the 2026 forecasts from leading research firms  IDC and Gartner . The big headline? Worldwide IT revenue is projected to see its most significant growth in 30 years. While AI infrastructure investment is the primary catalyst, this video explores why the ripple effects are much broader. We look at how the shift from building infrastructure...

In this week's podcast, Seth Robinson dives into a key challenge facing IT today: complexity. Inspired by an AFCEA article on the military's need to reduce complexity for digital transformation, Seth argues that while complexity isn't going away, standardizing and managing it is crucial, especially after years of heavy investment in digital components. He also tackles the often-debated concept of...

In this episode of Trend Watch, Seth Robinson dives into CompTIA's annual  State of Cybersecurity Report to explore the latest trends and shifts in organizational security. Despite a slight warming in sentiment—where more business and technology leaders feel satisfied with their current cybersecurity posture—the reality is that change is constant. Cybersecurity is a continuous reaction to the new...

In the age of AI, data is more critical than ever, but how is the data profession evolving? In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson dives into the job roles and skills shaping the data domain, drawing inspiration from a recent article on the rise of the data generalist. The answer to whether companies need generalists or specialists largely depends on company size. Large enterprises often hir...

Bosses are seeking AI-literate candidates, but what does that really mean? Host Seth Robinson explores this question, arguing that AI is a collection of technologies, not a single skill, drawing an analogy to the internet. Seth breaks down CompTIA's framework for AI skills into three layers: Digital Fluency/AI Literacy: The foundational skill all workers need. This involves applying AI in a busine...

Stereotypical notions of IT departments exist, characterizing them as full of busy work. In this episode, Seth Robinson dispels that notion, showing how IT departments have changed drastically with the times. Decades back, a first job in technology could be in IT support or network administration. But the landscape has widened dramatically since then, with additional entry points available in soft...

Welcome to the 2025-2026 season of Trend Watch! In this episode, your host Seth Robinson discusses career skills progression within the context of Digital Literacy and Digital Fluency. Digital Literacy is the every day use of digital technology, such as your phone. Digital Fluency, however, is achieved when you become an expert in your chosen tools of the trade, as you move towards your career in...