Technology jobs will contribute to significant job growth in the coming years across the U.S., and recent research from online learning provider Pearson finds that high-tech skills will infiltrate many professions in the future.
Pearson recently released its Skills Map—United States, a report that examines trends in job growth and skills demand to uncover how technology is changing existing roles and creating new opportunities. The current employment landscape and near-future outlook are altering the definition of a tech job. And three factors are also driving change across the U.S. job market, Pearson says, pointing to automation, AI, and an aging population.
“The key message is that technology is transforming jobs at a faster pace than ever before. Every job, from nursing to manufacturing, is becoming more tech-focused, increasing the demand for workers who can blend technical expertise with industry-specific skills,” said Dave Treat, chief technology officer at Pearson, in a statement. “As technology evolves, it’s opening new opportunities across all sectors, helping businesses tackle real-world challenges more effectively.”
For instance, the research points to examples such as nurses using on-site data analytics for patient care, educators skilled in AI for personalized learning, and manufacturing experts employing 3-D printing and robotics. “In one way or another, all jobs will become ‘tech jobs,’ and it is happening fast,” Pearson says.
“’Impacted by technology’ does not necessarily mean ‘replaced by technology.’ Instead, roles will change due to the demand for tech skills and efficiencies gained through technology,” the report states.
The forecast for the American job market in 2028 sees the addition of 1.9 million new jobs, according to Pearson, which calculated that figure by considering jobs gained through economic growth, jobs related to technology implementation and maintenance, and roles impacted by technology automation and augmentation. It predicts the roles that will see the largest growth through 2028 are jobs supporting technology implementation and maintenance. The retail sector is expected to see the largest decline as roles adapt to e-commerce and the need for workers with logistics and warehouse operations skills.
Pearson’s research shows that healthcare, education, and manufacturing will remain top employers in 2028 as all the sectors evolve with technology advancements. It forecasts that systems software engineers, computer and information systems managers, and computer programmers will find opportunities across all sectors and are among the top rising roles in the U.S., gaining approximately 319,970 new jobs through 2028 with a 15.4% increase.
“Employers must identify future skill needs and invest in upskilling their workforce. This includes examining tasks that can be automated or augmented by technology to improve employee productivity and free up time for learning,” the report states. “Workers who embrace lifelong learning and gain new technical proficiencies will remain competitive, particularly in industries facing automation and significant transformation.”
Source:: Network World