Tech Job Market is Evolving. Are you Prepared?
A McKinsey & Company report states that around 800 million workers, globally, might lose their jobs to robots by 2030. However alarming that may seem, experts say it’s not going to be all that bad. Author Bernard Marr argues that instead of submitting to the idea that robots will take over jobs, professionals could take a more optimistic approach. How? Do work that demands creativity, imagination, social and emotional intelligence and passion, which machines are not able to.
Artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning (ML), robotics, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), although still in infancy, are constantly changing the way organizations work, the workforce skills and capabilities requirements and how organizations adapt and change strategies. In this blog, we look at some of the workforce trends in the IT sector and what will the future of work in this sector entail.
Will organizations and the nature or work change? How will the workforce in the near future be different from what it is today? What steps will the HR departments take? What new skills will job seekers need to learn? Will jobs and roles change?
Rethink, adapt and welcome change
According to a Deloitte report, the future of work requires organizations to rethink work, workforce and workplace. The report throws light on a key finding:
Job roles and skills, as well as, organizational structures will evolve. Employment models are already changing; businesses can access talent via a range of on- and off-balance sheet solutions. And finally, instead of being specialized technologists, technology workers can become collaborative co-creators of business value.
Once organizations integrate tech into their work process, they will need to identify new job roles to align with the new work processes. As a study by Michael Gibbs points, technology has two types of effects on jobs: on the one hand, it facilitates automation of tasks, on the other hand, it complements social and innovative tasks.
A report by The Balance Careers lists seven fastest-growing jobs in the tech and IT sector:
- Database administrator
- Software developer
- Web developer
- Computer systems analyst
- Mobile app developer
- Market research analyst
- Information security analyst
Additionally, other reports list change management, network engineer, cyber security engineer, IoT designer, developer & engineer and machine learning designer & engineer as the hottest jobs in the IT sector.
So what can organizations and employers do in such a scenario where job roles and skills requirements are changing? A Linkedin survey throws light on a key question that employers must ask: “How can we help employees learn, so they succeed?” Here’ how:
- Bring a balance between the focus on automation and soft skills: As technology takes over every part of our life – professional and personal – it is critical to have technical and digital competence. But, there is another aspect to it. The need for soft skills to manage all the challenges of technology.
What can organizations do?Build adaptable work processes, encourage critical thinking, hire leaders who are compassionate, collaborative and communicate well with their employees.
- Make learning accessible for employees: 94% of employees desire that their employers invest in their career development. An organization that does this is A T & T. The Company is training half of its workforce to meet the needs of the future. “We could try to reskill our existing workforce so they could be competent in the technology and the skills required to run the business going forward,” explains Bill Blase, senior executive vice president of human resources.
What can organizations do?Align learning opportunities with employee needs and aspirations and organizational needs of the future.
As Marrs pointed out in the beginning of the article, some of the skills traditionally seen as soft skills will bring long-term value to employees seeking jobs. Some of these skills are:
- Creative thinking
- Problem solving
- Communication proficiency
- Emotional and cultural intelligence
- Conflict management
- Change management
Udemy lists soft skills that professionals are practicing the most to prepare themselves for future jobs:
- Growth mindset
- Creativity
- Focus mastery
- Innovation
- Communication skills
- Storytelling
- Leadership
- Emotional intelligence
Organizations, employers, recruiters and employees are preparing for the future of work in IT; what are you doing to remain employable and move your career forward?
