Technology continues to evolve incredibly fast, and there’s no stopping that. As we speak, there’s so much progress taking place. What’s in trend today changes tomorrow. And the IT professionals’ job description, skill set, and type of work need to align according to these new technological trends. So if you want to secure a career in this industry, you need to keep up with the latest tech trends. Through this post, we’ll be discussing the big-time technology trends for 2024 and beyond. Get to know them and use this as a guide to possibly land one of the jobs that these new technology trends will create.
New Technology Trends for 2024
Computing Power
We cannot underestimate the impact of computing power in this digital era. And this is just the beginning for computing power. Yes, that’s right. Data science specialists believe that the computer infrastructure we are now constructing will only improve in the next few years.
It’s also creating a huge space for more tech jobs, including in the areas of robotics, data science, IT management, and more. So it’s no wonder that, at this rate, it’s probably going to have the largest percentage of employment in a country.
One essential branch in this field is robotic process automation. Under that, some of the most sought-after jobs will be: data scientist, AI engineer, robotics researcher, AI architect, and robotics designer.
Generative-AI
The impact of generative AI is unbelievable. It has and continues to revolutionize various industries by enabling machines to create content that resembles human-generated work. It has several uses, ranging from word creation to visual synthesis and even music composition. Individuals who grasp generative AI might pursue intriguing work opportunities in domains such as artificial intelligence research, data science, and the creative industries.
If you go on this route, you can choose from amazing career opportunities like AI researcher, who conducts research on the development of advanced generative models; data scientist, who uses generative AI to extract valuable insights from data; content creator, who uses generative AI for innovative storytelling; and AI ethics consultant, who addresses the ethical implications of AI-generated content.
Datafication
Datafication is turning many aspects of our lives into data, which is then transferred into information as a new kind of value. With datafication being a permanent part of our lives, keeping our data stored appropriately, securely, and safely has become a high-demand expertise.
Datafication increases the need for IT specialists, engineers, technicians, data scientists, and many other positions. Data occupations are about practical skills and experience rather than just education. Some of the most popular data careers include those of big data engineers, robotics engineers, IT architects, business intelligence analysts, and data scientists.
Edge Computing
Right now, the once emerging technology of cloud computing has reached its heights. It’s been used by mainstream firms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Cloud computing has become more popular as more businesses start to migrate to a cloud solution. However, cloud computing has its limitations. As the volume of data that enterprises must deal with continues to grow, they have recognized the need for a better tool. That’s how edge computing comes into play. It’s able to work on those concerns by avoiding the delay imposed by cloud computing and delivering data to a data center to process.
Experts in cloud computing (including new-age edge and quantum computing) have the chance to expect jobs like cloud reliability engineer, cloud infrastructure engineer, cloud architect and security architect, and DevOps cloud engineer.
Technology Trends for 2024 : Genomics
When it comes to technology in healthcare, we cannot ignore genomics. This revolutionary technology is able to study the make-up of your genes, DNA, and their structure and use it to improve your health. And that’s not all. Genomics can also be used to quantify people’s genes and find diseases or any possible problems that can later be a health issue. If you wish to specialize in genomics, there are tons of career options, including technical and non-technical ones. Technical jobs in this sector can range from analyzing, designing, and diagnosing. On the other hand, non-technical jobs focus mostly on theoretical analysis and advanced research. The best jobs in genomics include bioinformatics analyst, genome research analyst, full-stack developer, software engineer, bioinformatician, and genetics engineer.
Quantum Computing
The next notable technological development is quantum computing, which is a type of computing that is based on quantum superposition. It’s a whole new step from classical computers toward the future. Quantum computing is able to make remarkable advancements in the healthcare sector in areas such as research, diagnosis, and treatment. Banking and finance are also finding uses for quantum computing, such as credit risk management, high-frequency trading, and fraud detection.
Quantum computers are now many times faster than ordinary computers, and major brands such as Splunk, Honeywell, Microsoft, AWS, Google, and others are currently active in quantum computing innovation. It’s been predicted that the worldwide quantum computing industry is going to reach more than two billion dollars by the year 2029. To build a name for yourself in this emerging field, you need to be familiar with quantum physics, linear algebra, probability, information theory, and machine learning.
Virtual reality and augmented reality
Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (ER) are the next remarkable technological trends. Although this technological trend has mostly been utilized for gaming, it has also been used for training ship captains in the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard of the U.S.
You can totally expect this technology to be further incorporated into our lives by the next year. AR and VR, which typically function with some of the other developing technologies described in this list, have immense promise in training, entertainment, education, marketing, and even injury rehabilitation. Yes, it’s that versatile and beneficial.
While some companies may want optics as a skill set, keep in mind that getting started in VR doesn’t need a lot of specialist knowledge; simple programming abilities and a good thinking perspective may secure a job, which is another reason why this new technological trend should be on your radar!
Blockchain
Blockchain technology is a method that enables transparent data sharing within a business network. The database stores data in blocks that are linked together, creating a data chain. What makes it so secure is the inability to update earlier blocks. This method is incredibly beneficial, as it minimizes or even prevents the chances of the system being changed or hacked. Blockchain removes the requirement for any trusted third party to handle or confirm transactions.
Several sectors are involving and adopting blockchain technology, and as the usage of blockchain technology grows, so does the demand for experienced workers. A blockchain developer specializes in building and implementing architecture and solutions based on blockchain technology.
If you are interested in blockchain and its applications and want to pursue a career in this emerging technology, start your journey as soon as possible. If you plan on entering the blockchain industry, it’s best to have thorough knowledge of programming languages, relational and flat databases, data structures, and web app development. Understanding blockchain may help you secure a position as a risk analyst, tech architect, crypto community manager, or front-end engineer.
Smart Devices
Artificial intelligence has been a game changer, and it will continue to be so in 2024 as well. AI has earned its place by making our lives hassle-free and simpler. These smarter devices will be there in 2024 and beyond, as data scientists work on AI household robots, appliances, work devices, wearables, and much more! Almost every job demands innovative software solutions to make our work lives simpler. Smarter devices are another addition to the IT industry that is in high demand as more organizations shift to digital domains. Almost every higher-level job needs strong IT and automation abilities. You can expect job opportunities such as those for IT managers, data scientists, product testers, product managers, automation engineers, and IT researchers.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Artificial intelligence plays a huge role in our lives, more than we realize. Right now, AI has the ability to recognize images and perform speech recognition. Plus, it can be relied on as a smartphone personal assistant, on navigation apps, and so much more.
Aside from that, in the future, AI will be used to understand underlying connections and gain insights to predict demand for services such as hospitals. This is going to help people in charge with their resource utilization and management decisions. Plus, it could be helpful in showing changing patterns of customer behavior by analyzing data in near real-time and improving customer experiences. As AI pervades sectors, new jobs will be created in fields such as development, programming, testing, support, and maintenance, to name a few. On the other hand, AI currently pays some of the highest incomes!
Machine learning, a branch of AI, is also being used in a wide range of sectors, resulting in a high need for trained personnel. According to Forrester, AI, machine learning, and automation will produce 9% of new employment in the United States by 2025, including data scientists, robot monitoring professionals, and automation specialists, making it yet another new technological trend to keep an eye on!
AI and machine learning are areas that power jobs like AI research scientist, AI engineer, machine learning engineer, and AI architect.
Digital Trust
With individuals being accommodated and entwined with devices and technology, faith and trust in digital technologies have grown. People who have digital conviction think that technology can build a secure, safe, and dependable digital environment and assist businesses in inventing and innovating without fear of losing the public’s trust.
Cybersecurity and ethical hacking are two significant sectors that focus on creating a safer digital space. There are a number of job occupations available in these two industries. If you wish to pursue ethical hacking as a profession, it’s important that you complete the relevant education and also obtain professional certification. On the other hand, for cybersecurity, you will need a diploma or a master’s degree. Some of the most in-demand jobs related to cybersecurity and ethical hacking include cybersecurity analyst, penetration tester, security engineer, security architect, security automation engineer, and network security analyst.
3D Printing
3D printing is a trend that is so popular right now. It’s being used to create prototypes. This tech trend has had a significant influence on the biomedical and industrial sectors. Different occupations pay a lot for organizations in the data and healthcare sectors that demand 3D printing for their goods. If you wish to secure a job in this area, you are going to need an understanding of AI, machine learning, and 3D printing. Some of the best jobs in this specialization include CX program manager, 3D printer engineer, emulation prototyping engineer, robotics trainer, AI engineer, operations manager, and organ and prosthetic designer.
Extended Reality
Extended reality is a type of augmented and virtual reality experience that combines the actual and virtual worlds, creating incredible and immersive surroundings. This technology is mostly popular among gamers, medical professionals, and retail professionals since it creates realism without any physical presence.
When it comes to virtual reality, one of the most important areas is gaming. It’s undoubtedly one of the most popular and in-demand industries. Plus, the jobs related to this don’t demand advanced degrees but rather a desire for online gaming. So if you love gaming and wish to pursue a successful career in this field, you can study game design, animation, or even editing applications. The most in-demand jobs in AR, VR, and ER include: extended reality architect, front lead engineer, software developer, AR/VR support engineers, game designers, pro gamers, and creative directors.
New Energy Solutions
Our world is in danger with each passing day due to the threat of global warming. Its impact can cause sea level rise, drought, storms, and even extinction. And the world agreed that this issue cannot be ignored and should be addressed ASAP. So it became a priority to minimize the release of global warming emissions like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. With that, the world came up with solutions like cars running on electricity or batteries and houses using greener choices like solar and renewable energy. More and more people are aware of the importance of minimizing their carbon footprints and waste.
Energy solutions as a tech trend were born as a way of increasing sustainability while reducing carbon emissions. If you’re passionate about being a part of this tech arena, you’re in luck because there are a lot of environmental and data-related jobs. These jobs are for people with science expertise and social science credentials. The most in-demand jobs include those of energy specialists, solar plant design engineers, climate strategy specialists, project managers, chemical energy specialists, biotechnology specialists, and renewable energy technologists.
Robotic Process Automation
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a form of business process automation that is based on software robots artificial intelligence. This includes interpreting applications, processing transactions, dealing with data, and even typing up your emails. RPA can be used for repetitive tasks that workers do. With this technology being able to mimic the back office tasks of human workers, this threatens a large percentage of the global workforce. However, on the bright side, this technology helps create new jobs in the industry.
RPA provides several job opportunities for you as an IT professional. If you wish to be a part of this field, you can target jobs such as developer, project manager, business analyst, solution architect, and consultant. And these professions are well-paying, making them the next technological trend to keep an eye on! Some of the job opportunities you can expect in this area include RPA developer, RPA analyst, and RPA architect.
Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT is another exciting new technological development that you need to keep up with. It refers to the many physical devices worldwide that are connected to the internet and exchange data with each other. The Internet of Things is the future, and it has already enabled electronics, household appliances, automobiles, and other items to be connected to the Internet and share data.
IoT is already benefiting us in our day-to-day tasks. For example, IoT allows us to remotely lock doors as we leave for work. Businesses, on the other hand, stand to benefit greatly both now and in the near future. As data is collected and analyzed, the Internet of Things may improve corporate safety, efficiency, and decision-making. It’s able to accelerate medical treatment, improve customer service, allow predictive maintenance, and provide more benefits.
It’s been predicted that about 50 billion of these IoT gadgets will be in use worldwide by 2030, resulting in a huge web of interconnected devices. And if you want to work with this technology, you’ll need to learn about information security, AI and machine learning principles, networking, hardware interfaces, data analytics, automation, embedded system understanding, and device and design expertise.
5G
5G was always the next inevitable step. And it’s far more advanced. For instance, 3G and 4G technologies let us use data-driven services and access the internet. On the other hand, 5G services are taking it to a whole different level. By enabling applications that rely on sophisticated technologies such as AR and VR, in addition to cloud-based gaming services such as Google Stadia, NVidia GeForce Now, and others. It is expected to be used in industries such as safety cameras, traffic management, smart retail, and smart grid control.
Almost every telecom business, including Verizon, Apple, Nokia Corp., and T-Mobile, is currently developing 5G apps. 5G network subscriptions are expected to reach over 4 billion by the end of 2027, making it an emerging technological trend.
Cyber Security
Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving technological trend. This is mostly because the threats are rapidly evolving. Malevolent hackers attempting to illegally access data will not give up easily, and they will continue to develop new methods. We’ve seen time and time again how even the most secure measures can fail against these hackers. This is why the cybersecurity technology field has to constantly come up with newer and better solutions. So new technology is being used to improve security.
By 2025, more than half of firms are predicted to utilize cybersecurity risk as a main decision in performing third-party transactions and commercial engagements. As long as there are hackers, cybersecurity will be a popular technology. So if you plan a career in the cybersecurity field, you can choose from jobs such as ethical hacker, malware analyst, security engineer, and chief security officer.
Wrapping up
In this post, we discussed the most anticipated tech trends of 2024. Technology keeps evolving, and it doesn’t seem to take a rest. These technological trends we discussed are predicted to rule in 2024 and beyond. Expertise in these areas seems to open up many amazing job opportunities. So we highly recommend choosing your career path among these tech trends and starting to polish your skills. Make sure to be up to date with these trends, get educated, gain experience, and be ready to be a part of the early phases of these trending technologies.