Information technology and cyber security is one of the fastest-growing fields on the planet - Top IT jobs of the future: Skills You Need To Learn Today to Get Ahead

In Demand IT Jobs of the 21 Century

Folks, have you really thought of what could become of your current job or career/profession in 10 to 20 years from now? Have you given a thought to how relevant or otherwise your current skill set and job/career would be in the the job market in the foreseeable future given the disruptive tendencies of information technology and automation in the work places of today and the future? Being aware of the fact that we are in the information age and computing capabilities have gone to another level, human skills and capabilities are being replaced by technology and automation in all industries (production and services). The question is, with your current skill set and expertise, are you likely gonna be a victim of automation, artificial intelligence and cybernetics? Are you currently in profession(s) or career(s) that are likely/easily going to be replaced by automation and technology?

With no disrespect to any profession, there are human skills and capabilities that are already being replace by automation and technological advancement. The application software industry for example is threatening professions such as accounting, banking & finance, marketing, architecture, civil engineering to mention but a few with some exceptions anyway. Automation is sweeping through the service industry with new innovative products and service channels setting the agenda while the internet and social media have not helped matters.

Consequent to the above, it is obvious that our livelihood will at some point be threatened if not already being threatened as a result of these sweeping changes and technological advancement, hence the need for us to carefully begin to evaluate ourselves with a view to ensuring that we have the right skills and capabilities to fit into jobs of the future. Truly, there are jobs of the future and they are technology inherent and will be available only to those who have smartly and strategically aligned and realigned themselves to acquire new skills that employers of the future will be demanding. Obviously, jobs of the future will be technology inclined hence, it is imperative for younger and middle age people of today across all works of life to begin to acquire new skills that will give them the relevance they desire in the future. When I say "the future", I am talking about 10 to 20 years from now and as a matter of fact, the future is already here. The wind of change is sweeping across already. Service industries such as banks, insurance companies, telecom operators, oils and gas companies, manufacturing and allied companies among others are retrenching/reducing/optimizing their workforce to fit into the automation/technology age, thereby resulting in the displacement of humans and introduction of more efficient and cost effective ways of doing more with less (i.e. automation).

IT jobs/careers/professions/expertise is the future folks, take it or leave it. Some traditional jobs/expertise of today will still be relevant no doubt, but not with scale (i.e. they won't employ as much as they should). The numbers will be with IT as it will employ more and reward the most. However, information security, cyber security and information assurance, which is still largely untapped have the greatest potentials for career aspirants. This is stemming from the fact that virtually every individual, businesses (small, medium, large), corporations, government, private sector and international organizations generate mission critical data that is processed, stored and transmitted within a private or public network (i.e. internet) for them to remain a growing concerns. Given the threats posed to these data, which requires significant level of protection, those in the field of cyber security, information security and information assurance will remain the most relevant and rewarded of all. Therefore, I present below jobs/careers that are already in high demand and will continue to be in the future. I suggest that you draw up strategies to begin to align and transition for those that are willing and able to do so. This is without prejudice to whatever it is you are doing at the moment. Begin to see how you can empower yourself to become tech savvy at least and broaden your skills in preparation for the change.