With IT emerging as an increasingly essential part of strategic planning within organizations, many companies are planning to expand tech department staffing, according to a recent survey from Robert Half Technology. The resulting “IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report” indicates that, at the very least, the majority of CIOs will seek to fill vacant positions, and very few intend to reduce IT staffing. Finding the right candidates for available opportunities, however, remains challenging for most CIOs, especially when it comes to the most in-demand tech niches. “Organizations are getting the green light on more technology projects, prompting them to make strategic hires,” said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. “However, technology leaders continue to struggle to find highly skilled talent in a market with low unemployment. They seek IT professionals with specialized skills, especially in the areas of cloud computing, data analytics, mobile strategies and cybersecurity.” The report also reveals the top five “hiring hotspot” metro areas for expanding IT staffing – with the top three cities being in the Midwest – and we’ve included those here. More than 2,500 CIOs took part in the research.