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Career Quick Facts

  • In 2018, there were about 128 million people employed full-time in the US.
  • According to CompTIA, technology jobs make up roughly 8-9% (~11.8 million) of those jobs.
  • Fastest growing professions includes software developers, information security, solar/wind energy technicians, and many jobs in healthcare.
  • The median annual wage across all occupations is approximately $38,000. Information Technology professional median annual wage is considerably higher at $86,000.
  • Highest paying jobs in Information Technology include (annual salary):
    • Information or Data Scientists ($188,000)
    • Information Technology Manager ($142,000)
    • Network Architects ($109,000)
    • Software Developers ($105,000)
    • Information Security Analysts ($98,000) 

Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CompTIA

How Technology is changing the way we work

  • Remote Work

An estimated 40-45% of the global workforce participates in a flexible or remote working arrangement. This is only going to increase as working from home at least one day a week is becoming a requirement for job candidates.

  • Real-Time Collaboration

It all started with AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) way back in 1997 which allowed people to connect over the internet. Today, there are countless tools to share information, collaborate on documents, and exchange ideas in real-time regardless of where your team is located.

  • Working in the Cloud

Gone are the days of working only with software that is installed on your computer. The movement of software into the cloud opens up the flexibility to allow employees to connect virtually anywhere and be productive. Cloud technologies are also easier to configure and deploy so less IT staff is needed to support the technology.

  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Computers have started to take over basic tasks that used to be done by a team of people. These robots are more accurate, faster, and work 24/7 without vacation time to increase production. Today, most RPA technology is targeted at assisting employees, but some repetitive jobs are quickly becoming obsolete. Is your job next?

  • Machine Learning & AI

The “smarts” being designed and built into computer systems has advanced significantly in the last decade. Computers can now understand speech, read text, and interpret meanings in order to function more like a human. Artificial Intelligence and machine learning technology has the potential to completely change the nature of work.

Any one of these trends may not drastically change the way we work, but the challenge is that companies are quickly adopting all of them at the same time. This is causing a shift in the skills companies are looking for and is entirely transforming how work gets done.

As technology advances, it’s projected that humans will play a lesser role in jobs that historically involved repetitive and low complexity tasks. Over the next couple decades, the job market could be completely turned upside down by technology. 

Are you ready to change along with it?

Top Emerging Technology Career Paths

Cloud Computing CareersWith companies moving more of their business to the cloud, they need cloud engineers and architects to define solutions to support the business.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Careers: While RPA may take over some jobs, there are new jobs being created to design and operate robotic technologies. The job market for this skill is going to be enormous as more companies start deploying robotics to reduce costs, improve compliance, and increase productivity.

Machine Learning & AI Careers: Similar to RPA, machine learning is a new technology that most companies and few IT professionals have started to understand. There are countless applications for AI and machine learning algorithms. The job market is full of opportunities for technical resources with this skill to help companies evaluate and apply this revolutionary technology.

Cybersecurity Careers: Think about all the large companies that have experienced a data breach in the past few years. Hackers are getting more sophisticated and companies are hiring cybersecurity professionals like crazy in response. There is a shortage of information security talent, so training and a certification is almost guaranteed to land you a solid job.

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