The future of digital work: top careers of the next decade
With digital technologies set to reshape the Australian landscape, skills in tech are in higher demand than ever. Not only are emerging IT areas in need of experts to help navigate, manage, and further develop their tools and platforms – but traditional, routine jobs (such as those often found in administration and data entry) are likely to face automation in the near future; pushing general Australian workers to further build on their digital literacy.
According to recent statistics, digitalisation is expected to generate 250,000 new Australian jobs by 2025 – boding plenty of employment opportunities for those seeking out a more tech-focused career.
Below, we break down some of the most in-demand, high-paying digital jobs of the next decade, and how training with Upskilled can help.
Why is it important to choose the right career?
Selecting the right career path can primarily lead to higher work engagement and satisfaction in the long term, as this choice will typically align best with your current skills and aspirations. The more passionate you are about your job, the more fulfillment you’ll gain from your role – meaning less risk of burnout, stress, and feelings of stagnancy.
The right career can also help deepen and nurture your current passions, paving the way for new professional opportunities. It should additionally fit well with your current lifestyle, helping you maintain a proper balance of work and personal commitments.
Finally, the right profession should be able to “future proof” your career opportunities, building you the skills you need to stay in demand and employable. This is why today’s workers are often encouraged to upskill for the digital realm, as our increasingly digitalised landscape is likely to rely on those with proper tech skills for years to come.
What are the best career options in the future?
Data analytics
With our generation and reliance on digital data, the data analytics field is dedicated to the collection, organisation, and assessment of such raw information; helping extract meaningful insights or trends for business use and innovation. It’s a field that rewards those with a flair for mathematics, statistics, programming and critical thinking – one that’s only bound to grow as our use of online technologies expands.
According to recent research by Deloitte, the data analyst role expected to see a 2.4% rise in job growth between 2021-22, with average salaries currently sitting at $93,376 AUD per year.
Digital marketing
Digital marketing encompasses all the tools, technologies, and practices involved in building one’s brand presence online. The field comprises numerous specialties, including (but is not limited to) social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, influencer marketing, and search engine marketing. With our ever-growing reliance on the internet, digital marketers are here to stay – helping us find new ways of optimising platforms, channels, and applications for online business promotion.
The field is currently one of the most rapidly growing digital sectors of Australia, with digital marketers expecting a job growth of 21.1% in the next five years, according to SEEK. Average salaries currently sit at an annual rate of $82,500 AUD.
Cyber security
With cyber crime rates growing at an alarming rate – particularly in the midst of new work-from-home procedures – the skills to implement and maintain robust IT security have never been in greater demand. Cyber security specialists are given the critical task of protecting one’s computer systems from existing and potential threats, such as viruses, hackers, online scams, and mundane user errors (i.e. opening suspicious links, using easy-to-guess passwords, etc.).
This sector is currently one of the fastest-growing digital fields in the country, and with Australia still needing 25,000 cyber security workers in the coming years to close our growing skills shortage – demand for industry skills is incredibly high. Currently, the average pay for such skills is at $97,000 AUD per year, with the potential to earn more depending on specialty and experience.
Software and web development
As we enter an increasingly digital future, it’s “code or be coded”. Those with the skills to create the applications, programs, and websites we need for future personal and business use are likely to stay in high value for the next decade; as we continue to develop these technologies for better communication, productivity, and innovation.
Due to most of these roles mainly requiring a working computer and stable internet connection to perform their tasks, much of them may also be accessible through work-from-home positions. This offers plenty of flexibility for those looking to enter the field.
According to Labour Market Insights, software and applications programmers can expect a 27% increase in job growth over the next four years, with web developers expecting an increase of 25% in the next five years, according to SEEK. Software developers currently earn an average of $99,566 AUD per year, while web developers earn an average of $86,964 AUD per year.
Cloud computing
Finally, the advent of cloud computing has paved the way for plenty of employment opportunity in the coming decade. This field is focused on the delivery of computing resources over the internet, including servers, software, storage, databases and network systems. With Australia’s investment in the field expected to surpass $14 billion in 2025, demand for those with the skills to develop, implement, and maintain these technologies is only bound to skyrocket.
Recent findings by Amazon Web Services (AWS) show that the number of workers requiring digital skills in Australia is expected to increase by 3.7 million – with the need for cloud-based abilities leading the trend. Average earnings for cloud computing skills also sits at a generous $136,000 AUD per year, with the ability to earn even more depending on experience and specialty.
How to prepare yourself for future career opportunities
1. Invest in your digital literacy. With new technologies transforming our personal and business activities each year, it pays to secure your future by learning about the latest tools, platforms, and digital practices. No matter your industry, job roles are growing increasingly reliant on tech developments to improve their service and productivity. In turn, certain tech skills (i.e. basic cloud computing, security, database management) are now becoming a workplace staple.
2. Keep up to date with industry trends. Of course, investing in your skills requires awareness of emerging new digital sectors. Be sure to stay updated on the latest developments through industry publications, tech websites, or online IT communities – helping you know when to upgrade your skills, and in what areas.
3. Pursue online training and professional development. Plenty of online courses are now available to help you build a “future-proofed” skillset for incoming opportunities in the digital world. Most of these programs can equip you with recognised IT certifications, helping you form the thorough, technical knowledge you need while verifying your skills for the job market.
Upskilled is a training provider that currently offers plenty of courses focused on building your digital skills – from certificates in IT fundamentals to diploma programs in cyber security and cloud engineering. Best of all, each of these are delivered online, helping you study at a flexible pace and schedule.
Build the skills you need for a digital future, and enquire with us on a course today.
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