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Five skills North East workers will need in the next two years

The world of work is evolving.

Digital technology is changing how businesses of all sizes operate. Undoubtedly there will be great opportunities for those who have the right skills and knowledge, but what will these be?

Teesside University’s digital skills experts are helping people build new skills for increased productivity, efficiency and career opportunities, via fully-funded online courses.

They have predicted the five skills that employers will be looking for in a candidate – to help ensure that you succeed in your future career.

1 - Coding

It’s wrong to believe that you should only learn to code if you want to pursue a career as a computer programmer. Coding skills can come in handy in a range of roles – from content creation, to design and even management – and can help you automate regular tasks, saving you time and energy.

Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. Free, easy to learn and with a lot of applications, it is an ideal skill to have under your belt.

2 - The power of AI

Don’t fear, robots aren’t coming to take your job – in fact – experts say artificial intelligence (AI) will operate alongside humans to ‘take away the grind’ from work, enabling people to be more imaginative and productive. Creating jobs for creative people.

Research from Indeed revealed the number of AI jobs in the UK listed on its online jobs board grew 485 per cent in three years – showing the increasing need for skilled workers in the AI sector.

3 - Digital marketing

Just 20 years ago the world of marketing looked very different. Marketers relied much more on printed materials and traditional media channels. That’s been transformed.

The majority of businesses now rely on websites, social media and search engine rankings in order to reach new customers and increase brand awareness. Therefore, digital marketing skills and an understanding of how to create a digital centred marketing strategy are highly desirable to employers looking to recruit new talent.

4 - Data analytics

Although computers and automation technology are increasingly being used to process data and diagnose problems, it’s still going to be humans that analyse the findings.

Data analytics and visualisation is a great skill for your CV. This means being competent in interpreting and transforming data into visuals such as charts, graphs and maps. Data visualisation techniques can help you effectively communicate important findings – helping employers make smart decisions and power up productivity.

And for those with this skill, there are career opportunities.

Demand for knowledgeable data analytics professionals currently outweighs the supply, meaning that companies are willing to pay a premium to fill their open job positions. It’s a fast-growing industry, with high salaries and plenty room for career advancement.

5 - Maximising smartphone technology

Do you know all the shortcuts on your smartphone? Chances are there are hundreds of functions you don’t currently use and many of them can help you save time and effort at work. By getting to grips with the technology in your pocket, you can become more confident in remote working and free up time for more strategically important work.

Or why not take it one step further? Mobile application development is one of the fastest growing occupations in the world – with 241,500 new jobs expected to be created by 2028.

The demand for innovative mobile apps is growing at an incredible speed. This increased demand translates to one of the largest IT skills gaps on the planet – there are simply more mobile application development job openings than skilled developers to fill them.

If you work in County Durham and want to book a digital skills taster session hosted by an industry expert from Teesside University, visit: https://www.tees.ac.uk/digitalskills

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Teesside University .