According to the latest data from LinkedIn, there are certain jobs that are experiencing tremendous growth within the UK market. These are the top roles that will shape the UK’s future workforce, and many are in high demand across multiple sectors. Contractors who work in these areas can capitalise on the growing need for specialist skills. Here we take a look at these emerging roles, the unique skills they require and which sectors are hiring them. So, without further delay, what are the top 15 jobs of the future?
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Artificial Intelligence Specialist
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Data Protection Officer
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Robotics Engineer
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Site Reliability Engineer
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Customer Success Specialist
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User Researcher
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Data Scientist
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Sales Development Representative
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Cloud Engineer
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Cyber Security Specialist
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Platform Engineer
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Full Stack Engineer
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Enterprise Account Executive
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DevOps Engineer
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Content Designer
Overview of top jobs of the future
A massive 33% of talent working in emerging jobs are currently employed by IT companies in the computer software industry. As interactions become more and more automated, it’s perhaps no surprise that Artificial Intelligence Specialist is the number one emerging job in the UK. According to McKinsey research, AI could potentially deliver a 22% boost to the UK economy by 2030.
Despite a heavy emphasis on tech, roles such as “User Researcher” and “Content Designer” also make the top 15, with industries like HR and marketing recruiting these top roles. It’s encouraging to see roles that require human interaction showcasing year-on-year growth in hiring, such as Customer Success Specialists and Sales Development Representative.
The pharmaceutical industry has the highest year-on-year growth for emerging jobs (+49%), followed closely by consumer goods (+48%) and higher education (+48%). Sectors such as human resources, marketing, and aviation & aerospace make the top 10, as well as higher education and research.
The data also shows a distinct gender gap. Currently, over 65% of all these emerging roles, across all the industries employing them, are held by males, with financial services (80:20) and telecommunications (81:19) having the greatest imbalance.
Over 44% of professionals working in the emerging roles in the UK are based in the city
of London and surrounding areas such as Hillingdon, which has seen year-on-year growth of 41%. Though the focus is still London, cities like Belfast (+39%), Cardiff (+35%), and Nottingham (+35%) also have significant year-on-year growth.
Which skills do you need?
Artificial Intelligence Specialist: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have both become synonymous with the tech revolution. This role encompasses titles, such as ‘Machine Learning Specialist’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence Researcher’, that all have a very specific set of skills despite being spread across industries. Unique skills: Machine Learning, Python, Deep Learning, TensorFlow. Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Financial Services, Internet, Computer Software, Research. Previously employed as: Data Engineer, Data Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher, Software Engineer.
Data Protection Officer: With the implementation of the EU’s GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act, the number of Data Protection Officers in the UK is growing rapidly. There are 24 times more Data Protection Officers in the UK than there were in 2015.The role of a DPO is to ensure that the handling of personal data complies with data protection rules.Unique skills: Data Privacy, Data Protection Act, GDPR, Data Protection Manager (DPM), Personal Data Protection. Industries hiring this talent: Financial Organisation, Government Administration, Information Technology & Services, Nonprofit Organisation Management, Hospital & Health Care. Previous roles: Compliance Officer, Data Manager, Data Specialist, Information Officer.
Robotics Engineer: These new engineers focus more on code and software, which help workers automate repetitive tasks. Unique skills: Blue Prism, Robot Programming, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Robotics, UiPath. Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Financial Services, Industrial Automation, Management Consulting, Computer Software. Previous roles: Automation Consultant, Automation Developer, Software Engineer, Robotic Process Automation Consultant.
Site Reliability Engineer: Responsible for ensuring that development and operational processes are running smoothly, the demand for Site Reliability Engineers will likely continue to rise. The skills required are also transferable to many different engineering roles.Unique skills: Amazon Web Services, Kubernetes, Docker Products, Terraform.Industries hiring this talent: Internet, Information Technology & Services, Computer Software, Financial Services, Broadcast Media. Previous roles: DevOps Engineer, Software Engineer, System Administrator, System Engineer.
Customer Success Specialist: Today, there are 10 times more Customer Success Specialists in the UK than there were in 2015. This could be fuelled by the growth of technology services that require hands-on support. These professionals need a combination of soft and hard skills, as they must understand the technology while managing the customer relationship. Unique skills: Account Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Salesforce, Customer Retention, Software as a Service (SaaS).Industries hiring this talent: Computer Software, Information Technology & Services, Internet, Marketing and Advertising, Financial Services. Previous roles: Account Executive, Account Manager, Business Development Managers, Project Manager.
User Researcher: Understanding customers and providing a good user experience (UX) is vital for businesses. Research shows that organisations that utilise customer behaviour outperform peers by 85% in sales growth and more than 25% in gross margin.Unique skills: Qualitative Research, Usability Testing, User Experience (UX), User-centred Design, UX Research. Industries hiring this talent: Government Relations, Design, Information Technology & Services, Government Administration, Hospital & Health Care.Previous roles: Business Analyst, Research Manager, Service Designer, User Experience Designer.
Data Scientist: This role is a specialism that’s continuing to grow across all industries in the UK. Some of this growth can likely be attributed to the evolution of jobs like statistician and increased emphasis on data in academic research. Unique skills: Apache Spark, Data Science, Machine Learning, Python. Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Internet, Financial Services, Computer Software, Marketing & Advertising Previous roles: Analytics Specialist, Data Analyst, Postdoctoral Researcher, Software Engineer.
Sales Development Representative: The skills needed for the role of Sales Development Representative have remained largely unchanged since 2015. However, within business transformation, sales capabilities are changing from being product-led to solutions-led.Unique skills: Business Development, Lead Generation, Sales, Salesforce, Software as a Service. Industries hiring this talent: Computer Software, Information Technology & Services, Internet, Marketing & Advertising, Food & Beverages. Previous roles: Account Manager, Business Development Executive, Business Development Manager, Sales Executive
Cloud Engineer: Cloud computing allowed companies to build products without needing their own servers, and every year the cloud gets bigger. Cloud Engineers will likely be a continuing need in all industries. Unique skills: Amazon Web Services, Cloud Computing, DevOps, Microsoft Azure, Terraform. Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Computer Software, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Banking. Previous roles: Architect, DevOps Engineer, Solutions Architect, Software Engineer.
Cyber Security Specialist: Cybersecurity is priority for most companies. The growth and importance of this role is likely to continue as reports of data breaches emerge.Unique skills: Cyber Security, Information Security, Network Security, Penetration Testing.Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Financial Services, Computer & Network Security, Accounting, Telecommunications. Previous roles: Information Security Analyst, Information Security Consultant, Security Analyst, Security Consultant.
Platform Engineer: Broadly speaking, a PE will specialise in different platforms, for example Amazon Web Services. The role shares commonalities with Site Reliability Engineer, and many PEs are former DevOps Engineers. Unique skills: Amazon Web Services (AWS), DevOps, Docker Products, Kubernetes, Terraform. Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Internet, Computer Software, Financial Services, Broadcast Media. Previous roles: DevOps Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, Software Engineer, System Engineer
Full Stack Engineer: The Full Stack Engineer will be proficient in front and back-end coding, for example they’ll develop coding for mobile platforms, and design user interactions on websites. Unique skills: AngularJS, Git, JavaScript, Node.js, React.js.Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Internet, Computer Software, Financial Services, Marketing & Advertising. Previous roles: Frontend Developer, Java Software Engineer, Software Engineer, Web Developer.
Enterprise Account Executive: What you should know: Enterprise Account Executives are responsible for managing relationships with an organisation’s larger customers — a role that’s highly valued judging by its place on the list. They’ll plan sales activities to achieve targets, and are heavily involved in relationship management, customer loyalty, and market coordination. Unique skills: Account Management, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Software as a Service, Solution Selling. Industries hiring this talent: Computer Software, Internet, Computer & Network Security, Information Technology & Services, Marketing & Advertising. Previous roles: Account Executive, Account Management, Business Development Manager, Sales Manager.
DevOps Engineer: A DevOps Engineer’s main role is to manage the IT infrastructure of their organisation. This involves time spent working with software developers, system operators, and others to oversee code releases. Organisations using DevOps practices are overwhelmingly high-functioning, deploying code up to 30 times more frequently than their competitors. Unique skills: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Ansible, DevOps, Docker Products, Terraform. Industries hiring this talent: Information Technology & Services, Financial Services, Computer Software, Government Administration, Internet.Previous roles: Infrastructure Engineer, Software Engineer, System Administrator, System Engineer
Content Designer: When it comes to communicating information effectively, more and more businesses require specialists. As a result, Content Designer has nudged its way into the top-15 emerging jobs list. From creating and reviewing content around the customer journey, to in-depth research, the Content Designer possesses skills that are in demand across many industries. Unique skills: Content Design, Content Strategy, Copywriting, User Experience (UX), Web Content Writing. Industries hiring this talent: Government Administration, Government Relations, Information Technology & Services, Hospital & Health Care, Non-profit Organisation Management. Previous roles: Content Editor, Copywriter, Content Specialist, Graphic Designer.
For more news on the sectors currently hiring in December read our article here. For more on two sectors that are currently hiring, see our articles on how the roll out of a vaccination programme in fuelling hiring demand in healthcare and how the PMs 10-point green recovery plan will create roles on hundreds of projects all over the UK. If you’re starting a new contract, ContractingWISE have access to a wide range of hassle-free services that can help you with setting up a limited company or finding the right umbrella company for you. To talk to a member of our team, call: 0203 642 8679
