The Changing Face of the Digital Workforce and How It’s Impacting the Education Sector

Within the last decade, there has been a significant transformation in careers that are deemed as fundamental to society, with an abundance of new jobs emerging as an outcome of advancing technology. These emerging jobs require skill sets that were viewed as unimaginable in previous decades, and has in turn resulted in the global market pushing to fill these market gaps in more recent times.

The following careers significantly impact the education industry, as these emerging industry areas require educators to equip students with the skills that are in high demand for the job market. Digital skills are no longer an elective – they are essential to the workforce.

For the education industry (both Higher Education and VET), this transition offers great prospects, to really hone in on a new market that can assist with the following:

– Robert Walters Salary Survey 2018

Read on to explore the growing fields that are considered to play a functioning role in not only today’s, but also tomorrow’s society:

An SEO Specialist plays an imperative role in the world of digital marketing. Search Engine Optimisation is the modification of online content, which is executed in a way to helps to improve the search engine results of a client’s online presence. In effectively using carefully researched keywords and phrases, SEO has heightened the way in which users can find exactly what they are looking for online. The trust that is placed by users in the top results of an online search is something that every organisation should hold of importance, as this trust is a major key in SEO success.

In more recent times, social media has become a fundamental part of daily living. It is only natural that Social Media Managers have grown to play an essential part in every businesses bridge of communication, no matter the size. Social Media Managers utilise several kinds of social media platforms to attract, advertise, update and recognise users of the product or service they are promoting.

A Cloud Computing Specialist is an expect IT specialist that is required to work with the ‘cloud’. This is where all varieties of data are collected via the internet, rather than a physical drive. This role involves development and creation of cloud environment, along with the management and observation of these spaces.

With technological innovation comes a plethora of data. The Data Scientist is responsible for the methods and systems that extract information from large masses of data collection. Also known as a ‘Big Data Analyst’, this role continues to be in high demand, as data volumes continue to see a spike of 40% per year.

Digital marketing is a staple part of all business processes. It is essentially comprised of all marketing efforts that include the use of either an electronic device or the internet. Some channels include search engines, email (EDM), social media and websites. Digital marketing has become progressively fundamental to many businesses in more recent years, with 37% of people using digital means to interact with branded content.

A UX Designer is a key role within the technological scope (particularly agile software development), that explores how products and experiences ‘feel’ for their users; constructing seamless and pleasant experiences that enhance overall user satisfaction. Through the application of improved usability and accessibility, customers are provided with optimised versions of products such as mobile apps, websites, operating systems and virtual assistants, leaving them pleased with their experience.

Content Creators target specific audiences by using a tailored content approach when developing information for them to consume. Generally, this content is produced for online platforms. Some of these online channels include: websites, blogs, EDM, social media marketing and video.

Along the same vein as a Software Developer, a Mobile App Developer aims to produce, implement and monitor mobile applications that follow the brief supplied by a client. This role employs various computer programming languages to produce mobile applications. Apps that are produced for organisations play a vital part in preserving brand image and help to retain customers (when executed effectively).

A Sustainability Manager isn’t a job that you hear of often. However, this career is valued globally, as sustainability has grown to be of great importance among many businesses values and interests. This role explores the ways which companies can transform its resources to be more environmentally friendly, as well as how they can positively impact environmental issues.

With technological advancements immensely influencing the professional landscape since the early 2000s, hundreds of brand new jobs have been developed to continue to enhance and transform our way of living. This increasing pool of students looking to develop skills in these emerging areas will continue to create more unique opportunities for providers to capitalise on.