As you may have heard, 2020 was unprecedented. So unprecedented that “unprecedented” was looked up 800% more in 2020 than it had been the year before, according to Dictionary.com, making it the site’s People’s Choice Word of the Year.
The job market also faced unprecedented changes in 2020. After the “fastest recession in history,” economists warned that the job market would never be the same, and, more than a year later, that prediction looks more valid than ever.
The altered job landscape raises some pressing questions: what do I do next? What skills do I need to succeed? How do I reestablish or reroute my career path to navigate the post-COVID job market?
In Sept. 2020, the labor market analytics firm Lightcast released a study to help what they termed the “survivors” of the tumultuous COVID and post-COVID labor market. Lightcast’s takeaway was simple: job seekers must demonstrate “resilient skills,” i.e., “skills that have either remained or increased in demand” despite the havoc that the pandemic and economic shutdown have wreaked on the labor market.
To help you land your next potential job, we dug into the data to compile a list of most resilient skills. Read on to learn more about these skills and the UW Professional & Continuing Education’s certificate programs that can help you gain or hone one of them.
1. Programming
With the dramatic shift to remote work, which is likely here to stay, tech dominates Lightcast’s list of resilient skills — and programming sits atop the tech heap. From March to July 2020, programming skills appeared in nearly 10% of all job postings. Python, Java and JavaScript were the three most coveted programming languages — each appearing in more than 300,000 job postings in that three-month period.
In Washington state, 24,100 job postings required Python, Java or JavaScript in March 2021, a 6% increase over February and a 51% increase since March 2020. If you dream of being a programmer or web developer, UW offers certificates in bpth Python and JavaScript. Additionally, we offer popular certificates in front-end development and full-stack development. Demand for these two skills increased by 33% from last year in Washington.
Looking for more? Explore all our programming and tech programs.
2. Data Science
Big data just keeps getting bigger: the International Data Corporation predicts worldwide data usage will increase 61% annually, leaping from 33 to 175 zettabytes by 2025. As of 2020, the number of devices connected to IP networks was more than three times the global population.
We’re overwhelmed with data, and as it continues to grow, so too does the demand for skilled data scientists who have the power to transform raw numbers into decision-making insights.
An understanding of data science, or data analytics, opens up opportunities for those proficient in SQL, Azure, machine learning and cloud computing. Last year, Washington state’s job postings for professionals with data science skills rose dramatically. There are nearly 5,000 jobs requiring data science skills in the state, up 76% from last year.
Want to take the next step toward being a data science professional? Learn how to acquire valuable insights from data sets and use statistical modeling, machine learning, software engineering and more to improve business decisions with UW’s variety of programs in the field.
Looking for more? Explore all our data and analytics programs.
3. Marketing
As news and guidelines and protocols have shifted daily since 2020, it’s been more important than ever for companies to be able to rapidly change direction and plan for the future. When it comes to planning, vision and growth, marketing remains vital, no matter the industry.
COVID-19 has changed the way consumers shop, but it’s also eroded brand loyalty: almost half of consumers are trying new brands since the pandemic began. That’s why experience with key performance indicators, go-to-market strategy and product marketing are integral to maintaining a customer base — and why companies need employees with marketing skills more than ever.
In Washington, nearly 5,000 jobs require skills in marketing strategies, marketing management and business marketing, a 42% increase from last year.
Looking to start or further your career in marketing? The UW offers numerous certificate programs that will make you a coveted marketing professional ready to help a company plan for the long road ahead.
Looking for more? Explore all our marketing programs.
Source: Lightcast – lightcast.io