Everyone’s definition of success is different. It takes many forms, but one thing that most people can agree on is that it contains a sense of contentment and security. The following ten years are expected to be a period of rapid change. According to the World Economic Forum, we would need to reskill over 1 billion workers by 2030, as jobs are transformed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will apply to current jobs as well as those yet to come into being. According to the World Economic Forum, 42 percent of the essential skills needed to execute current occupations may change in the next few years. Change is happening at an exponential rate, according to Klaus Schwab, the WEF’s founder and executive chair. One method to provide this security is to gain relevant skills and open as many doors to opportunity as possible.

Data skills

We live in an age of big data, which has nearly become a cliché. But that doesn’t make it any less true. Data is being collected on an unprecedented scale, and it’s being utilized for everything from enhancing industrial processes to keeping shelves stacked to precisely targeting digital ads. Big data’s scope and range will only expand in the next years, allowing machine learning and automation. Data is the language that will enable the interconnection that will be at the core of Industry 4.0. As a result, those who can organize data collecting, understand the findings, and make decisions based on them will be in great demand. Currently, there is a skills gap in terms of data literacy. Research from Accenture and Qlik shows that 74% of employees are uncomfortable working with data. This has repercussions; on average, businesses lose 43 hours of productivity per employee each year owing to a lack of data literacy.

Relevant careers

• Business analyst
• Data scientist
• Marketer

Artificial intelligence

While the existing system poses a considerable risk to some job activities, AI has the ability to transform the way we work and live for the better. Employers and entrepreneurs wanting to revolutionize and streamline the way we work and live will be in great demand for those with AI capabilities to build and implement artificial intelligence solutions. While programming and analytic abilities are essential for AI creation, those in other job categories who will be using AI in their operations, as well as managers overseeing the process, would benefit greatly from an understanding of AI/machine learning.

Relevant careers

• Machine learning engineer
• Business intelligence analyst
• UI designer

Blockchain

Blockchain ranked first on LinkedIn’s ranking of the most in-demand hard talents for the year 2020. While most people think about blockchain when they think of Bitcoin, the technology’s potential economic uses are much broader. A decentralized public ledger is defined as a blockchain. It provides a secure and verifiable record of trades and transactions while obviating the need for established authorities, such as banks in the case of Bitcoin. The financial impact of blockchain is expected to be enormous. By 2027, the World Economic Forum expects that 10% of global GDP would be kept on blockchain.

Relevant careers

• Blockchain engineer
• Legal counsellor
• UX designer

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing don’t seem like occupations that are very forward-thinking. These talents, however, will be necessary in future workplaces since they cannot be mechanized. These professions, at least for the time being, require a human touch in order to gain an advantage in the new digital terrain. Technology has transformed marketing, allowing new channels such as social media, affiliate marketing (another top LinkedIn talent), and digital content to emerge. More crucially, analytic tools enable a hitherto unheard-of level of data collecting and performance evaluation. As a result, the stakes are raised, forcing marketers to step up their game in order to stay competitive. Human marketers will be required to make decisions and drive campaigns, regardless of how advanced the tools get. Salespeople will also be required to close deals with other people. These job functions continue to bear the burden of generating revenue, whether directly or indirectly.

Relevant careers

• Salesperson
• Social media manager
• Affiliate marketing manager