This is a guest post from Jomel Alos. Jomel is a Consultant at Guthrie-Jensen Consultants.

It’s not quite right to say that we live in a technological world now more than ever. Over time, technology has been the driving force in various fields such as business, education, medicine, and telecommunications to name a few.

However, technology is dynamic by nature, so it’s quick to change and pave the way for the so- called industrial revolution. After three industrial revolutions, we’re now at the forefront of the fourth one. No question, the technology we have today is far smarter, more powerful, and more encompassing than its predecessors. Smart technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics are paving the way for the automation of processes across industries.

These days, it’s quite common for companies to utilize AI-powered chatbots, which are quickly transforming service desks by providing immediate answers to customers’ queries via chat.

An automated system in customer service may cut the amount of time that product or service users have to wait for a resolution to their problem since chatbots can be online 24/7. The downside of automation, though, is that there might be a minimal need for human participation in certain tasks. Thus, there might be particular job functions that could become obsolete in the not so distant future.

At the same time, the disappearance of certain types of work could result in the creation of new jobs that are more attuned to industry trends. To cite an example, drone delivery is slowly gaining ground in some areas as companies look to cater to customers who want instant delivery of their goods or help their delivery services get past hard-to-reach areas. Thus, there might be demand for engineers who could speed up drone production and at the same time, ensure the safety of these aerial vehicles.

For employees, this means that they’ll need to upgrade their skill set so that they could break into new job markets. While some might cringe at new challenges, it is through acquiring new skills or updating existing ones that enables one to achieve steady growth as a professional, which is important in fast-tracking promotion.

This infographic identifies the top skills for 2020. Although technological know-how is a must, competencies that relate to creative thinking, critical judgment, and even emotional intelligence, which is a soft skill, are still going to be valuable for future generations of employees. The idea is to produce a well-rounded workforce that could contribute to enhancing the overall quality of life through technological innovations and improved work standards.

This infographic also identifies which industries will be the most popular a couple of years from now, as well as the types of job where work opportunities will abound. By being aware of these things, employers and employees would have an idea of where to best channel their resources and efforts.

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About the Author: Jocelyn Pick