Technology moves fast, and even the most skilled employees need to play catch up every once in a while. Silicon Valley continues to dominate the economy, and workflows in all fields are transforming to take advantage of the latest innovations. The folks at LinkedIn have crunched the numbers, and these are the most in-demand skills heading into 2020.
Cloud Computing
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The office server room, with its constantly whirring fans and 24-hour electricity consumption, will soon be a thing of the past as businesses move their technology to “the cloud.” Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are all major players in this field, and companies are looking for employees who know how to navigate cloud services.
Artificial Intelligence
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Though it sounds futuristic, artificial intelligence, or AI, is already here, populating “chat bots,” driving cars, and making online services work more smoothly and seamlessly than ever before. Machine learning is complex, however, and there is a shortage of talent in the field, meaning that employees who understand AI will be in high demand in 2020.
Analytical Reasoning
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Companies aren’t simply looking for people with the ability to think and solve problems. They want employees who can analyze data, and these workers are in short supply. As more companies learn about the value of data-driven approaches to business, technologists who specialize in data analysis and data science will have a huge advantage in 2020.
People Management
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UX Design
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UX, or “user experience,” design is an essential element of building applications and websites. Users need to be able to navigate your website intuitively, which isn’t as easy as it might sound. Designers with a good eye for how users interact with web platforms are hard to find, making it one of the most in-demand skills of 2020.
Mobile Application Development
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People are becoming increasingly dependent on their smartphones, using apps to do their banking, buy groceries, order Ubers, and so on. Mobile developers are therefore in high demand, with companies competing to create mobile-first applications that fit into our everyday lives and the tech world facing a shortage of software developers.
Video Production
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The internet is faster than it’s ever been, and businesses have responded by jumping on the possibilities of video production. Seventy-five percent of online video content was viewed on mobile devices in 2018, meaning that video producers with an eye for what works on mobile devices are set to reap rewards in the future.
Sales Leadership
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Great salespeople are hard to find, but great sales leaders are even more rare. No matter how many technological innovations transform the world, companies will always need a great sales team to truly capitalize on their products. It’s difficult to excel in sales, but if you have a knack for it, the future is yours.
Translation and interpretation
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In the past decade, China has emerged as an economic powerhouse, while globalization has resulted in multinational companies that span countries, languages, and cultures. The need for good translators and interpreters is more important than ever, and individuals who can work in multiple languages will be very useful as the millennium enters its third decade.
Audio Production
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As digital media expands to include more video and audio content, audio producers are increasingly in demand, especially in the field of podcasts, which barely existed a decade ago. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field of broadcast and sound engineering will grow by eight per cent by 2028, which is much faster than the average field of employment.
Natural Language Processing
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So-called “smart speakers,” notably Amazon Echo and Google Home, are in high demand, and they know what we sounds like. As we roll into 2020, companies will be looking to hire engineers and experts who understand how these seemingly magic toys work.
Scientific Computing
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Scientific computing relates to the rise of big data. Engineers and data scientists who understand programming languages like Python and R will find themselves in high demand as more employers use data to drive their decision making.
Game Development
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The entertainment industry is in a period of transition, as people are giving up old-fashioned habits like going to movie theatres and watching cable television. The video game industry now brings in more revenue than movies and music combined. People are moving on to more interactive forms of entertainment, which suggests the future is bright for game developers.
Social Media Marketing
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Animation
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People live their lives on the internet these days: it’s full of opportunities for animators to ply their trade. From advertisements, instructional videos, and video games to copious online streaming channels for children, animation has never been more prevalent—nor is it just for kids anymore.
Business Analysis
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As more tech companies disrupt the economy, more businesses are looking to compete in the modern economy by making their businesses more efficient and taking advantage of innovative work processes. It’s up to business analysts to help companies make these changes, which is why the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the field will grow by 14 per cent by 2028.
Journalism
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Journalists themselves have spilled much ink over the past two decades about the challenges facing their industry as newspapers have closed and newsrooms have been laid off. Fortunately, journalists have transferable skills that can be taken out of the industry, as more companies than ever are looking for content creators who can craft compelling stories out of real life.
Digital Marketing
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Digital ads are expected to make up half of all ad spending by 2021, according to some experts. With digital marketing becoming the norm, companies are looking for more employees with digital marketing skills to help them make compelling ad content that can cross platforms and audiences.
Industrial Design
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Competitive Strategies
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The complex, volatile nature of the market is the reason businesses need employees and consultants who can craft strategies for the future. Management consultants already make up a $250 billion industry; employees versed in competitive strategies are positioned to become ever more valuable.
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