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When looking for a new job, it’s best to have a good idea of the latest trends in the job market. Does everyone work in their pajamas now? Probably not, but with almost 5 million people working remotely these days it might feel like it.

In 2020, the top job trends are centered around the importance of data literacy in every role and field, new roles specializing in cloud security, and a dramatic increase in hiring for people with technical skills in artificial intelligence (AI).

Job Trends to Act on in 2020

Data Proficiency 

Having technological know-how is no longer limited to just the roles of engineers and programmers. Now, companies are looking for everyone they hire to have technical prowess, particularly around data.

Guy Berger stated in the LinkedIn U.S. Emerging Jobs Report that “Data science is a field that is seeing continued growth on a tremendous scale.” He goes on to mention that the need for those with data science knowledge is growing in almost every industry.

There’s never been a better time to have data skills. According to Gartner, “50% of organizations …lack sufficient AI and data literacy skills to achieve business value.” Businesses are eager to hire employees who can fill those skill gaps.

Plus, Forbes reports that data science roles and related jobs have grown more than 650% in the last 8 years, while the number of qualified individuals is not enough to fill the need. With an abundance of opportunity and high growth potential, now is a great time to invest in your data skills.

Cloud Security

“The cloud” has been a buzzword for years, but that doesn’t keep it from still being a top trend. In the past two decades, more and more companies have migrated to the cloud and made it a key part of their infrastructure. In fact, according to Kaspersky Lab, “over three quarters (78%) of businesses…already make use of at least one form of cloud service and the same number (75%) are planning to move more applications to the cloud in the future.”

With all of this data going into the cloud, the demand for professionals with knowledge of the cloud and a speciality in security is skyrocketing. Entrepreneur predicts that cloud cyber-security platforms are “expected to become a $460 million industry,” and they are all looking to hire. Making it the perfect time to pursue a career in cloud computing

Artificial Intelligence

Roles for people with skills in artificial intelligence have been steadily rising for years, and they’re not stopping now. According to Indeed’s best jobs of 2019 report, hiring for Machine Learning Engineers grew more than 300% between 2015 and 2018, and that number has only increased.

And now, hiring for AI roles has expanded beyond just Machine Learning Engineers. According to Guy Berger, the principal economist at LinkedIn, “AI has infiltrated every industry, and right now the demand for people skilled in AI is outpacing the supply for it.”

Forbes reports that hiring growth for AI roles “encompasses a few different titles within the space that all have a very specific set of skills despite being spread across industries.” After all, AI is used for more than just self-driving cars and Pandora’s radio algorithm. These days, it’s common for enterprise companies to use it to automate everything from HR to their own applications. With that in mind, the opportunities in AI are endless.

Ready to Look for a Job?

If these job trends for 2020 have you excited about the possibility of finding a new role, then it’s time to get yourself out there. Start by taking online courses in data science, cloud computing, security, and artificial intelligence so your technical skills are on trend.

You’ll be on your way to your new role in no time!

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Jennifer Shalamanov
Jennifer Shalamanov
Jennifer is a content writer at Udacity with over 10 years of content creation and marketing communications experience in the tech, e-commerce and online learning spaces. When she’s not working to inform, engage and inspire readers, she’s probably drinking too many lattes and scouring fashion blogs.