New technologies come, evolve, and fade. In 2023, this is no longer a slow process. In fact, it seems to be speeding up quite a bit. Today’s most in-demand job roles were practically unheard of just a decade ago. In such a fast-paced environment, upskilling becomes an essential tactic if you want to remain competitive in the job market.
Still, deciding where to spend your efforts can be a tricky business. Learning resources may be abundant, but your time isn’t. So which new skills could be worth your while in 2023? We are here to give you straightforward answers. Let’s dive deep into the five tech skills in demand in the global job market. The list can help you spot exciting opportunities and improve your odds of success.
DevOps offers the perfect combo
This decade has already taken us beyond software development in the traditional sense of the word. A hybrid approach is best if you want to stay competitive. One of the tech skills in demand that can set you head and shoulders above your peers is DevOps. It blends development and operations, making sure that the organization delivers applications and services at a higher velocity.
Product delivery and issue resolution happen at a faster pace, often becoming fully automated. This enables greater scalability and possibilities for growth. Think of DevOps as 50% coding, and 50% operations management.
So how do you get into it? Coding and scripting will still be the most important tools. You’ll also need to perfect your communication skills, as well as your understanding of automation. The ultimate goal is to make the operations so efficient, the entire organization has more time to devote to the customer, rather than its own internal workings.
Data storytelling is a tale to tell
When it comes to tech skills in demand, it’s impossible not to mention data communication and storytelling. So what’s it all about? It’s far less cryptic than it sounds. After all, the narrative is the way we make sense of our complex world. In essence, data storytelling is the logical extension of data analytics. In addition to the usual collection, preparation, and analysis, it also requires the professional to communicate the data to an audience.
The audience can be anyone with an active interest in the workings of a particular business. This can include the management, investors, other stakeholders, or even customers. These potential decision-makers might not have the skill to interpret the data, which is why it’s important to go beyond mere charts and dashboards, offering digestible insights in understandable terms. These can then serve as a starting point for any decision or action.
Cybersecurity is always a safe bet
It’s no surprise to see cybersecurity on this list. Attacks and data breaches are on the rise and more often than not end up costing money. Businesses are acutely aware of this. After all, roughly 65% of organizations in the US plan to increase cybersecurity spending in 2023. It’s not an expense, it’s an investment.
At this point, many banks and government institutions expect every employee to have a decent understanding of cybersecurity best practices. Staying safe is everyone’s business. Of course, cybersecurity specialists are also increasingly in demand.
Handling sensitive data, protecting IT infrastructure, and taking care of cloud migrations are just some of the tasks involved for these experts. Cybersecurity also focuses on intrusion detection, network security control, and fast incident response.
In addition to coding skills, an expert will need to be aware of the latest threats, trends, and legal regulations. This is a very fast-paced environment you should join only if you’re up for a challenge.
User experience (UX) design for those with a creative flair
The user interface can make or break any platform. Design it poorly and the customers will leave. Hence, it’s no wonder that so many businesses are willing to invest in teams of UX designers when augmenting their staff.
As one of the tech skills in demand, user experience design aims to make machines and gadgets user-friendly and accessible to all. You’ll need to gauge what the user needs. It’s not only about coding, information architecture, and designing wireframes. You’ll also have to conduct market and audience research through surveys and interviews.
Expect a sharp focus on visual communication, repeated prototyping, and loads of testing. The process of creation can range from picking the right font size to figuring out the cleanest page layout. You’ll also work on adding new features. Perhaps an e-shop will benefit from a favorites section or a banking app will require chat-based customer support. It’s yours to create it and make it user-friendly.
Play it smart and stick to Artificial Intelligence
Alexa, find me a high-paying job. Ok, maybe your virtual assistant can’t do that yet. If, however, you develop your skill set in the niche of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (LN), you might as well contribute to making this a reality. And that’s without mentioning that AI-related jobs themselves pay quite well.
From human-like chatbots to digital diagnostics, there has been an obvious increase in demand for AI and ML experts. Want to upskill in this direction? There are several niches to choose from. You can focus on natural language programming (NLP), deep learning, robotics, or perhaps problem-solving platforms. Skills you’ll need include domain knowledge, programming languages, as well as predictive and data analysis.
Even all that sounds like a lot, they’re well worth the effort. After all, the global AI market had a value of roughly USD 136.55 billion in 2022. Year-on-year growth is likely to be around 37.3% between 2023 and 2030. Jumping on the AI bandwagon could prove to be a very smart career move.
Focus on the tech skills in demand
Following the great resignation of 2022, companies seem to be struggling to retain talent. Employees may finally have the upper hand. Still, this doesn’t mean you should rest on your laurels and assume that last year’s skills are enough to succeed. If you’re aiming high, you’ll need to keep expanding your horizons.
We’ve covered five tech skills in demand that could help you get your foot through the door. DevOps blends software development and operations management, while data storytelling keeps a fine balance between analytics and communication. UX design introduces a creative streak into the mix. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are perhaps the most exciting scenes to be a part of in 2023. Cybersecurity, obviously, ensures that all of this is kept safe and secure.
Wherever your talents lie, you’re bound to find a role that ticks all your boxes. If you want to become more attractive to employers, you‘ll want to assess your current proficiency in these areas. Upskill and you’ll likely access a much wider range of job opportunities. We’re talking not only about better pay but also about (currently very elusive) job security.