The result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown is that the world has been moving towards conducting business online and remotely.
Experts from the Independent Institute of Education say that future careers will increasingly require people who are qualified in fields involving the cloud, internet, big data, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning and augmented reality.
So students who are still unsure about their plans for their career path or those who are employed and want to set out on a new career path should look to careers which involve these fields. This is because jobs which are conducted using online platforms and are technology based will be in demand in the next couple of decades.
“These fields will undoubtedly continue expanding, and alongside their growth, will need to grow their workforce. So these are excellent options for young people and Matrics still uncertain about what they would like to do with their futures.
And because many existing jobs can be future-proofed by acquiring additional skills and knowledge, and adapting to move applications and systems to the cloud, those who already started on different career paths are also in a position to future-proof their careers with a little additional investment in their education,” said Nola Payne, head of faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education.
Natasha Madhav from the Independent Institute of Education says that although schools do not offer many subjects which incorporate these fields of study learners should not be discouraged as most tertiary institutions do allow them to start from a very basic level.
Madhav says courses will be expanding beyond information systems and computer science which will allow students to specialize in certain fields.
"Even though you may have finished your diploma or degree, look for what is needed and identify those higher certificates, short learning programs even honours programs that specialise in the fields." said Madhav.
Even learners at primary schools have been introduced to the online environment as a result of the lockdown. They have also engaged in building robotics and lego games to encourage interest in the world of technology.
The popular fields of study that should be required in careers next year are as follows:
Mobile App developer/Web developer
Developing mobile apps and websites is one of the fastest growing disciplines as businesses are wanting to move online and increase functionality by moving to mobile devices.
"Good news for prospective students is that there is currently a big skills gap in this area, so there are many opportunities in this field, and it is also a good fit for those interested in becoming entrepreneurs.” says Payne.
Online advertising on social media has become increasingly common and therefore increased the need for web developers.
"To make a success in these fields, professionals require responsive web design, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) skills.” says the expert.
Software engineers & database administrators
These existing careers have always been in demand however they are evolving as there is a need to adapt for operation on digital devices and in the cloud.
Cyber security expert
Since businesses have moved online Natasha Madhav from the Independent Institute of Education has said that there is a growing need to protect both the information of employees and clients who make use of these platforms.
Cyber security experts are said to be some of the most in demand professionals. Their role is to secure websites, company data, and sensitive information in the cloud as there are many hackers who are out to steal information and misuse it.
Network engineers/Network administrators
People who work in this field have to integrate and connect computer systems and networks across various platforms such as the cloud, mobile devices and other traditional systems.
The move to conducting business online has increased the need for professionals in this field so that businesses can securely make use of network technologies.
Data analyst/Scientist
Professionals in this field analyse big data, which is large volumes of data obtained through people's activity on web pages, and make decisions based on this. This is so that the online experience is customized to the client's experience.
Payne says those who enjoy mathematics, statistics and programming, and have an analytical brain should consider this career path.
3D printing farms – Robotics – Augmented reality – Artificial Intelligence – Machine Learning
"These are very exciting emerging opportunities, and prospective students interested in these fields should ensure they speak to a student advisor at their higher education institution of choice to enquire about how their offering matches these career paths." said Payne.
These fields are at a very progressive stage in terms of current technology and will grow exponentially in the future according to Payne.
She stresses that people ensure the institutions that they attend, to acquire all these skills and knowledge, have a strong industry connection and evidence of work-integrated learning. This is so that people can find jobs and be successful instead of just having a theoretical foundation which won't be enough to secure a job.
