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The most in-demand skills of 2016 to learn in the New Year

LinkedIn_skills

We love LinkedIn, not only because it’s a great platform to share information and promote expertise, it also collates reams of global recruitment data to provide invaluable insights for job seekers. This October, they released another gem which reported on the most in-demand employment skills of 2016 in the UK. It also revealed a quick list of job market trends which we will discuss in further detail below.

Top 5 Global Skills – with jargon-busting links

  1. Cloud and Distributed Computing

What is distributed computing?

  1. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining

How should one begin a career in data mining/business intelligence?

  1. Web Architecture and Development

What does a web architect do?

  1. Middleware and Integration Software

What is Middleware?

  1. User Interface Design

How to become a user interface designer?

Top UK Skills of 2016

  1. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining
  2. Middleware and Integration Software
  3. HR Benefits and Compensation
  4. Web Architecture and Development Framework
  5. Mobile Development

5 employments trends to watch

Tech continues to dominate

As this set of 2016 top skills show, the UK jobs market as a whole is becoming even more dominated by the technology sector. As digitalisation sweeps across the country, employers are searching for candidates with experience in the latest commerce and e-commerce trends, most notably mobile developments skills for mobile commerce, otherwise known as M-commerce.  

Finding a niche could help your career

If we take this year’s list and assess it next to the top skills that employers were looking for in 2015, it’s evident that employers are drilling down into specialist areas within a service area, or have set their sights on other expertise altogether. For example, Marketing Campaign Management and SEO/SEM Marketing, which were ranked #3 and #4 in 2015 have now been replaced by HR Benefits and Compensation and Web Architecture and Development Framework.

Cloud computing investment will continue

What the UK list does not show is the extent of how vast the cloud computing sector now is across major economic markets. Data Presentation, and Data Engineering and Data Warehousing are featured inside the UK top 10 (#9 and #10 respectively), which highlights that big data skills are still crucial in the workplace. On the other hand, cloud computing has dropped out of the UK top 10 from the number one position in 2015, but features heavily elsewhere: it’s the most desired skill in France, Germany, India, Ireland, Singapore and the United States. It may be that cloud computing skills have been renamed to Data Mining to hone in specific talents in quite a varied sector. 

What this tells us is that even basic knowledge of cloud fundamentals and software experience can enhance your career options, particularly within organisations that deal in international markets.

Companies are taking care of their staff

HR Benefits and Compensation skills make an unpredictable appearance within the digitally-dominated landscape. Compensation and benefits HR managers are basically in charge of looking after employees from their first year right through to retirement. They’re in charge of implementing reward schemes, managing benefit policies, and administrating pension schemes and medical insurance. Other aspects of the role include managing bonuses, company car arrangements and life assurance schemes.

This steep rise in demand (these skills didn’t even make it into the top 25 in 2015) could be an indication that companies are willing to invest in staff perks to attract the best talent, are complying with the workplace pension scheme which was introduced this year, and are maintaining recruitment levels despite periods of uncertainty this year.

If you have any of these skills, add them immediately to your CV and covering letter. However, if this has inspired you to finally brush up on your IT skills in 2017, take a look on the City College Brighton and Hove website to find a course for you. Alternatively, take a look at our technology vacancies to browse our apprenticeship and entry-level positions.