Technological innovations are forcing lots of changes in the job market. On the one hand, millions of jobs are being created while thousands of existing jobs are chopped out because of obsolescence.
The “Future of Jobs” report from the World Economic Forum has identified emerging work trends across 20 economies and hundreds of industry sectors. The in-depth study scans change in career fields with rise of new roles and enhancements as visible changes.
However, this does not mean that all traditional jobs would become obsolete. They may exist but not at a good competitive rate.
According to the WEF, 75 million jobs will be obsolete by the year 2022. The advancement of robotics and artificial intelligence will take away 58 million jobs.
To stay relevant to the job market, the way out is to reskill and upskill.
The WEF report also highlights the inroads made by automation, machines, and algorithms that may take over 75 million job roles through 2022. But it says 133 million new jobs will also come up during the same period.
In most labour sectors robotisation, digitisation, and automation are making and unmaking jobs. How machines changing work is evident in the fact that in the past 71 per cent of total task hours have been done by humans with only 29 per cent by machines or algorithms.
But that ratio is changing; by 2022, the human role in task hours will be reduced to 58 percent with 42 percent of jobs performed by machines and algorithms, researchers predict.
By 2022, machines will take up half of data processing and information search tasks, reasoning, decision-making, and administrative tasks.
However, jobs requiring human interface is also up. It is evident in the Top 10 emerging jobs requiring exclusive “human” qualities such as jobs of sales professionals expected steep growth in the coming years. Jobs requiring technological innovation and software and applications development will be in demand.
According to the World Economic Forum study, the top 10 emerging jobs for 2022 will include the following.
Data analysts and scientists: Data analysts translate numbers into plain English. Every business collects data, sales figures, market research data, logistics costs etc. A data analyst will interpret data and help companies to make better business decisions.
AI Specialists: An artificial intelligence and Machine Learning programmer develop software that helps robots, and machines make decisions and learn on their own.
These people ensure an organization functions efficiently and productively. They manage daily operations, human resources, quality assurance, administrative, governance and policies
Software developers and analysts: Developers use codes to build software and applications as required by clients. Analysts are the middle people between the users and developers who determine the needs and evaluate the developed software or app as good enough to meet the needs.
Sales and marketing: Sales pros carry out activities for promoting and selling the goods and services of a company. Roles include sales, marketing, business development, relationship executive, and digital marketer.
Big data: The complex and diverse data sets called Big Data carrying information including hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends and customer preferences help organizations make informed business decisions
Digital transformation specialists: They help organizations transform activities, processes, competencies and models to leverage technologies and digital tools. This is to keep pace with trends like cybersecurity, blockchain, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cryptocurrency. The person must be up-to-date on all things in the tech world and how it affects security.
Organizational development specialists: OD specialists’ make organizations effective across the board by expanding knowledge and skills via people. They address skill gaps to ensure optimum competencies with the responsibility to ensure that an organization is flush with the needed skills to achieve its core objective
Information Technology services: This includes Web developers, software engineers, Network engineers, IT managers, cybersecurity professionals, and system analysts.
Cybersecurity experts: They ensure precaution and mitigation against cyber-based crimes.
Robotics engineers: They are highly skilled in coding and software in areas such as biomedical engineering, warehousing and logistics, agri-tech and hi-tech manufacturing. They are well paid and sought after too.
Nurses: Many countries are opening training centres for nursing studies as hospitals experience shortages.
UX designer: User experience combines branding, design, function and usability for websites, apps and digital platforms to make end-user experience uncomplicated. It is a key area as far as online retail, education, banking, finance, education and many other digital services.
Epidemiologist: Life sciences jobs will be in plenty in the future. Epidemiologists research the causes and effects of viruses and diseases in an increasingly global society - following the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
Artists: Those with an artistic streak will have enough opportunities in video gaming, animation, packaging design, VR, landscape design, and advertising careers.
Accountant: Businesses need accountants to run the financial part of their business. Good accountants are always in demand.
Teachers: The number of children moving into secondary schools is growing but there is a shortage of teachers in physics, maths, computer science and languages.
Maintenance technicians: Companies create the products today and they can become increasingly hi-tech in the future. Production lines get automated but humans are still needed to run machines smoothly.
To boost CV and show new skills on the Resume, look for online courses that provide certification at the end of the course. Strengthening CV will show commitment to new learning and aptitude to add new skills. Upskilling and reskilling are opportunities offered by many employers.
But that logic is good enough to adopt for all those getting ready for the job market to be relevant to the market. Upskilling is enhancing an existing skill set to fit into a current role and add value to the functional area. Reskilling is retraining for a new position where a role has become redundant.
Although the new workforce comprising millennials and Generation Z are strong in digital talents niche requirements call upskilling to avoid redundancy.