What Do the Next 10 Years Hold for the Job Market?
The future isn't what it used to be. Although we’re likely not to discover the secret to weather control or flying cars in the next 24 months, there are some things we do know are headed our way in the coming decade.
How will the job market evolve over the next 10 years? What do you need to do now to ensure when that time comes, you won’t have trouble competing? Here are three predictions for the job market future.
1. Education Will Remain Important, But It Won’t Mean Everything
Everybody talks about how important it is to have an education. Without a college degree, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, getting your bachelor's may not be enough. Their predictions say that jobs requiring at least a master's degree are going to grow by over 20 percent between now and the year 2020.
Does that mean you have to go back to school?
Does that mean that working mobile app developers will have to go back to school to get their master's just so they don’t lose work a decade down the line to some newbie with a pedigree? Not exactly.
Experience and talent will always be in demand. But if you’re currently studying to be an App Developer or a Website Designer and you’re considering higher education, it might not be a bad thing to have in the long run.
2. Freelance Work Opportunities Will Continue to Grow
There’s a new reality out there in the business world, and it’s not one that’s going away any time soon. The previous widespread economic crisis has caused all businesses – from corporate-sized monsters to mom and pop shops – to take on a new mentality where cutting operational cost is critical.
Enter Freelancers
One of the areas where companies save a lot of money is through the hiring of professional freelancers: Web Designers, Mobile Applications Marketing Experts, Graphic Designers, and so on. Instead of keeping a full-time crew that also has to be paid time off and benefits, more and more companies will continue to explore the solution of hiring a freelancer to do the work when they need it.
If you’re currently a freelance professional or are thinking about taking the dive, the great news is that 10 years down the line contracted workers will make up a much more sizable percentage of the workforce.
Read more about the future of freelance here.
3. As Grows Technology Dependence, So Grow the Jobs
With the number of businesses that rely on technology expected to balloon, there’ll be work aplenty for skilled professionals in the coming decade. Specifically, expect the job market for web design, mobile application development, and social media marketing and management to skyrocket.
While the BLS says that “computer related” jobs will grow by 14 percent, a much faster rate than other jobs, you don’t necessarily have to wait until 2026 to reap the employment opportunities. The current job market for these types of jobs is bustling, with more opportunity growing each day.
If you want to take advantage of that opportunity, your first step is to find a visible platform where you can show your portfolio to interested companies, and where you can make connections with businesses seeking your services.
What Next?
At Artisan Talent, you can do both. To get started, click here and get yourself registered for the future job market today.
Editor's Note: Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess. This post was originally written in by Vince in 2013, but has been freshened up for accuracy and relevance.
