When most people think of stability in the tech market, they think of Salesforce. It’s easy to see why—Salesforce revenue has gone up and to the right every year for the past ten years. But the tides are changing.
Unfortunately, Salesforce is not unique in its slowed revenue growth. Tech at large seems to be experiencing what can best be interpreted as a post-COVID hangover. The pandemic forced companies to rapidly undertake strategic digital initiatives aimed at enabling a remote-first workforce. But as society and the economy have corrected from the boom caused by free money and low interest rates to the new normal of slower spending and more uncertainty, the focus has changed to driving more efficiency while weathering the storm.
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of any trend or abrupt change in the ecosystem because there are typically many different factors at play. However, our team can’t help but speculate how some of this year’s trends will play out into 2025 and beyond. Read on for a few predictions from 10K’s executive team for the Salesforce talent ecosystem.
Matt Gvazdinskas, Chief Strategy Officer
Key Takeaway: This year, there was a 20% YoY increase in the number of Salesforce partners — the highest increase we’ve seen since 2020. There are now over 3,000 Salesforce consulting partners.
Prediction: We will continue to see growth at this pace, coupled with specialized AI and industry-related professional services.
Following our 2023 report, where we saw a 19% YoY increase in partner firms, I predicted that growth would continue and even increase in 2024, which it did. This year, I don’t see any signs of that slowing as customers continue to explore AI strategies and invest further as outcomes and results become more clear.
As for industry specialization, I see as much, if not more, of the total partner growth stemming from customer demand for niche expertise. This growth will eventually plateau, but probably not this year—especially as the economy gains momentum following the US election.
Kristin Langlois, Chief People Officer
Key Takeaway: Even though Admins had the lowest negative change in demand of all roles, they only made up 8% of all job listings (the least out of all roles).
Prediction: We will continue to see a decrease in demand and job listings for Admins due to the increasing complexity of Salesforce.
Last year, in light of the decreasing demand for Admins and Salesforce’s evolving complexity, I recommended that Admins pick a niche to become highly technical. Based on 2024’s data, my recommendation still stands. To stay competitive in 2025 and beyond, it will be more critical than ever for Admins to prioritize specialization, technical expertise in niche areas, or acquisition of complementary skills like business analysis.
Mike Martin, Chief Customer Officer
Key Takeaway: Despite experiencing slowed growth in 2024, the Salesforce talent market, particularly in emerging markets, shows signs of positive activity, indicating potential for future recovery.
Prediction: Demand for Salesforce talent, particularly Developers and those with expertise in AI and Flow, will likely see an upswing in 2025 as companies regain confidence in the market.
An increase in demand for Salesforce talent in 2025 could mean that Salesforce customers may face a more competitive hiring landscape as they compete for skilled professionals. This is especially noteworthy as Salesforce continues investing in its AI capabilities, and more customers are seeking to implement these cutting-edge solutions to optimize their businesses.
As economic conditions improve, we will also likely see companies revisit their budgets and investments in Salesforce. This may lead to a greater need for all types of Salesforce talent, including Administrators, Consultants, and Architects, to support more significant and complex projects.
