Want to land an IT job in 2026? Learn the top in-demand skills — AI/ML, cloud, cybersecurity, data engineering, DevOps and more — plus the best free resources and a 90-day learning plan to get started. Practical, local-friendly and entry-level friendly.

The tech job market keeps shifting fast — especially with AI and cloud services accelerating demand across industries. If you want to be competitive in 2026, focus on a mix of technical skills (AI/ML, cloud, cybersecurity, data engineering, DevOps, full-stack) and adjacent skills (prompt engineering, AI ethics, systems thinking). Multiple industry trackers and hiring reports show these areas at the top of employer wish-lists for the next 12–24 months. Metana+2coursera.org+2

Below I break the key skills down, why employers want them, and the best free ways to learn each — plus a practical 90-day plan to jumpstart your CV.

1) Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI/ML)

Why it matters: AI is now embedded into products, business processes and analytics. Companies want engineers who can build or integrate ML models, tune LLMs, and design safe, reliable AI systems. Demand is high across finance, health, retail and government. digitalregenesys.com+1

Free learning path:

Start with fundamentals: Python, statistics, linear algebra. Use freeCodeCamp and MIT/Harvard open course materials. FreeCodeCamp+1
Move to ML basics: Coursera (audit mode), Google’s Machine Learning Crash Course, and Microsoft Learn AI modules. coursera.org+1
Practice with projects: Kaggle (free datasets & notebooks), Hugging Face demos for LLM experiments. (Build a simple classifier or fine-tune a small transformer.)

2) Cloud Engineering (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Why it matters: Businesses are migrating to cloud-first architectures — engineers who understand cloud services, infra as code and cost optimization are in demand. Cloud skills pair strongly with AI and data roles. NetCom Learning+1

Free learning path:

Use free vendor training: AWS Free Tier + AWS Training, Google Cloud Skills Boost free tier, and Microsoft Learn (lots of free Azure learning paths). Microsoft is even running large regional upskilling initiatives (e.g., South Africa). bigdatatrunk.com+2Microsoft Learn+2
Practice: create projects on free tiers (small web app, serverless function, deploy a container).

3) Cybersecurity & Information Security

Why it matters: Threats keep growing; every organisation needs security expertise — from SOC analysts to identity/access management and secure AI practice. Cyber roles remain a high priority. Lorien+1

Free learning path:

Start with basics: networking, Linux, and defensive fundamentals via free courses (Coursera audit, EC-Council free lists, SANS free resources). EC-Council+1
Practice labs: TryHackMe (free tier), OverTheWire, and virtual labs; build a home lab with virtual machines and capture-the-flag challenges.

4) Data Engineering & Data Analytics

Why it matters: Data is the raw material behind AI and business insights. Data engineers and analysts who can pipeline, clean, model and visualise data are urgently needed. World Economic Forum+1

Free learning path:

Learn SQL + Python (Pandas), then ETL basics: freeCodeCamp, DataCamp free content, and vendor docs (BigQuery, AWS Glue). Class Central+1
Build projects: dashboard in Power BI Desktop (free) or Google Data Studio with public datasets.

5) DevOps / SRE (CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code)

Why it matters: Faster, reliable delivery of software relies on DevOps culture and automation tools — Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD pipelines. Companies reward engineers who can automate environments and monitoring. NetCom Learning+1

Free learning path:

Learn Git (free), Docker basics, Kubernetes intro (Katacoda or vendor free labs), and Terraform tutorials. Practice by automating a simple app deployment pipeline.

6) Full-Stack Development (Web & Cloud-native)

Why it matters: Building production apps — front end, back end, databases and deployment — remains the fastest path to getting paid work. Full-stack devs who also know cloud and basic infra are especially valuable. coursera.org

Free learning path:

freeCodeCamp full-stack curriculum (HTML/CSS/JS, Node.js, React) plus GitHub portfolio projects. Class Central

7) Emerging/Adjacent: Prompt Engineering, AI Ethics, Systems Thinking

Prompt engineering and AI-ethics are specialities growing quickly — organisations need people who can get reliable, safe outputs from LLMs and understand ethical constraints. Upskilling here gives you an edge. IT Pro

The “How to Learn for Free” toolbox (quick list)

freeCodeCamp — full web development + data basics. Class Central
Microsoft Learn — free Azure/AI/DevOps learning paths and modules. Great for certificates and practical labs. Microsoft Learn
Coursera / edX — audit many university courses for free (pay for a certificate only if you need it). coursera.org+1
Vendor free labs — AWS Free Tier, Google Cloud free tier & Qwiklabs, Azure free account. bigdatatrunk.com+1
Hands-on practice — Kaggle, TryHackMe, GitHub projects, local hackathons.
YouTube + Medium/Dev.to — countless tutorials and project walkthroughs.

For learners in South Africa specifically, note that large providers (e.g., Microsoft) have publicised regional skilling initiatives—use those when available for extra supported programs. Reuters

90-day beginner plan (practical)

Weeks 1–4 — Foundations

Pick one track (AI, Cloud, Cybersecurity, or Dev).
Daily: 1 hour Python/SQL + 1 hour introductory course (freeCodeCamp/Coursera audit).
Build small micro-project (e.g., a data analysis notebook or simple web page).

Weeks 5–8 — Core skill + Project

Follow a vendor/module path (Microsoft Learn, AWS Labs, Coursera modules).
Start a GitHub repo; commit daily progress. Add README and deploy a demo.

Weeks 9–12 — Portfolio + Apply

Polish 1-2 projects, write short case study posts.
Join local tech communities, LinkedIn, or GitHub; apply to internships or junior roles.
Do short certs where free (Microsoft badges, vendor free trainings) to prove skills. Microsoft Learn+1

CV & interview tips for 2026

Showcase projects, not just courses. Link to GitHub, deployment, and a short video demo.
Add measurable outcomes: “Reduced pipeline runtime by X”, “Detected Y vulnerabilities in CTF” or “Built model with X% accuracy”.
Highlight business impact: tie technical work to savings, speed, or user growth. Employers increasingly hire for skills over degrees. Alexander Technology Group

Final notes — focus + consistency wins

The market in 2026 rewards curiosity and demonstrable work. Pick one T-shaped path (deep skill + a couple of complementary skills), practice with projects, and use the huge set of free resources available (freeCodeCamp, Microsoft Learn, Coursera audit, cloud free tiers, TryHackMe/Kaggle). Big players and consortia are actively funding training and bootcamps — look out for local initiatives and free certificates. Reuters+1