The tech timelapse: Trends, skills, and what’s next?

Welcome to the fourth issue of the Tech Wrap India, a fortnightly newsletter bringing you the hottest conversations shaping the world of tech right now, brought to you by Isha Chitnis , tech and innovation editor at LinkedIn News India.

This week, let’s dive into the world of technology — Where it was, where it’s going, and what it means for professionals looking to build a career in the industry.

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There was a time when phones weren’t as smart, computers were bulkier, internet speeds were slower, and social media was just getting started.?We've witnessed and experienced an astounding pace of change over the last two decades.

How we work. How we learn. How we live. How we connect. How we consume information. There isn’t one aspect of our lives — individually or professionally — that tech hasn’t transformed over this time period.

From a surge in internet usage to the iPhone sparking the smartphone revolution to UPI changing how we transact to breakthroughs in healthcare , retail, media and entertainment to the recent generative AI buzz— tech is everywhere, and almost every sector is in some stage of its digital transformation journey.

While innovation is aplenty in the sector, it has gone through its share of tumultuous times, most recently the effects of the pandemic and the ongoing tech downturn and funding slowdown amid an uncertain economic environment.

So… what’s next for India’s tech professionals?

Tech changed the way we work, and what we work on

“Technology has had a significant impact on the workforce, and it has transformed the way we work and the jobs we do,” says Rituparna Chakraborty , Executive Director (Board) at TeamLease Services Limited. How? It has changed the nature of work itself, she says, creating new opportunities for people to work from anywhere in the world, and enabling companies to tap into a global pool of talent.

When it comes to jobs, machines and software have become increasingly sophisticated and can now perform many tasks that were once done by humans, such as data entry, manufacturing, and even some forms of customer service, adds Chakraborty. At the same time, technology has also created new jobs that require skills that didn't exist before, and these jobs are often high-paying and in demand, and require specialised skills that not everyone possesses.

?? See Rituparna’s post on how tech has impacted the workforce

How do professionals perceive this change? Almost 42% of workers in the IT and telecom industry believe that tech will create new roles that don’t exist yet, shows LinkedIn data. On the other hand, almost 63% of them believe technology will increase productivity at work over the next twenty years.?

The impact of most technologies on jobs is expected to be a net positive over the next five years, says the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 . According to the report, the biggest drivers of job growth will be big data analytics, e-commerce and digital trade, climate change and environment management technologies, and encryption and cybersecurity.

A majority of the fastest-growing roles today are technology-related roles, with AI and Machine Learning Specialists leading the list of jobs. The fastest-declining roles, however, are also driven by technology and digitisation, with clerical and secretarial roles and Data Entry Clerks being among the most affected.

IT rides the tech transformation roller coaster

“The story of the Indian tech world is one of constant renewal and rejuvenation,” says Krishna Gopal , Global Head, Sales Enablement at Tech Mahindra.

From Y2K to the BPO wave to the shift from mainframes to client-server and web-based computing right up to cloud and Generative AI — a lot has changed for the industry, but the workforce has coped well during this journey, says Gopal. He adds that the tech industry provided employment to folks beyond technology when BPO and ERP implementations came along, and believes that AI is set to democratise IT even more, and the engineer vs non-engineer divide will begin to vanish.

?? See Krishna Gopal’s article on the evolution of the IT industry

More tech needs more cybersecurity — and cloud saves the day

“As the world becomes increasingly digital, security has emerged as a critical concern for businesses and individuals alike,” says Pradeep Rao , Director and Chief Architect at Kyndryl. The biggest and most impactful tech transformation in cybersecurity over the last 20 years has been the rise of cloud computing and its associated technologies, he adds.

Why? “With cloud computing, businesses can now store their data in remote servers and access it from anywhere, making it easier to collaborate and work remotely,” adds Rao. He says this technology transformation has not only changed the way businesses approach cybersecurity, but has also created a need for professionals with expertise in Cloud Security, Data Encryption, Zero Trust and Network Security. There is surging demand for security professionals with strong communication skills to help bridge the gap between technical teams and business leaders, he adds.

“With emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Edge Data Centers and Quantum Computing, new cybersecurity threats will emerge,” says Rao, creating a need for highly skilled professionals to address them.

?? See Pradeep’s article on the evolution of cybersecurity

As digitisation becomes a priority for industries across the board, digital skills are in hot demand, including for blue and grey-collar jobs. Recruiters are on the hunt for blue and grey-collar workers with expertise in analytical and digital skills such as machine learning, robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence, said a Business Standard report, citing data by Billion Careers.

Non-tech sectors are expected to hire over one million tech professionals by 2027-28, says a recent report by TeamLease Services. The primary sectors driving this trend? Banking and financial services and consulting, communication media and technology, retail and consumer business, life sciences and healthcare, engineering research and development, and energy and resources, says the report.

?? See AmitKumar’s post on the growing demand for tech skills

The future of skills will hover around three cohorts , says Rituparna Chakraborty — Cloud, data, and cybersecurity. She adds that hard skills, however, may not be enough to help us take on the unpredictable times ahead. “We need a healthy mix of non-cognitive skills,” she adds.

What soft skills have stood the test of time over the last two decades? Learnability, collaboration, ownership/accountability and empathy, says Krishna Gopal . He also suggests tech professionals dabble in entrepreneurship, become proficient in any one programming language, and grasp at least one business domain well — be it banking, manufacturing, telecom, retail, etc.

"Fundamental knowledge of your area of study is also as important today as it was in the past.?A good mechanical engineer, electronics engineer, civil engineer or maths graduate with a knowledge of coding is the person who will actually lead the charge of innovation," says Kirti Seth , CEO, SSC at Nasscom, adding that they understand the science behind the machine and the code or algorithm that can enhance its functionality.?

Emphasising the importance of communication, she says it is "the oil that greases the wheels of an organisation."?The skill continues to be important as teams have become dispersed, technology has become complex, and remote work needs a much higher bar of communication skills than face-to-face does, she adds.

What are the top skills IT and telecom industry professionals in India are looking to acquire to adapt to the changing market? AI skills are on top of mind, followed by creativity, adaptability, tech skills and critical thinking, shows LinkedIn data.

What tech skills do you think will become crucial over the next twenty years? Share your thoughts using?#TechWrapIndia .

The use of artificial intelligence is picking up across sectors , and its significance in the workplace will only grow stronger. But how do professionals envision AI changing the way we work??

We will feel more fulfilled in our careers and achieve job satisfaction with the help of AI? As many as 86% of professionals in IT and telecom agree, shows LinkedIn data. Contrary to fears about being replaced by AI, professionals are keen on learning and utilising this technology to advance their career prospects. They’re also keen on how AI can support them in their roles - like having an AI-powered assistant that learns to think and act like us when we go on leave or need extra help in the day.

With AI taking over routine tasks, the future of work will be one where productivity and creativity are prioritised. Professionals dream of a future where commute time will be cut, and anti-distraction technology is made mandatory.?

From machine learning to artificial intelligence to Web3 to Ethereum to metaverse to now ChatGPT — throughout his tech education journey, Yajas Sardana , Full Stack Developer and Organiser at React India, has seen the world around him jump on many a tech bandwagon.

Apart from what he calls a “consistent pattern of change”, Sardana sees a growth of technologies like NFTs and ChatGPT, which bring with it a possibility of increased layman user adoption.

How can tech freshers thrive in the ecosystem? Drawing from his own experience interviewing at a big tech company, he suggests not letting any new hype prevent you from learning the fundamentals first and spending time on them, no matter what domain you choose.

??? See Yajas Sardana’s post on what freshers in tech should keep in mind

“If you're a young professional looking to thrive in the tech industry over the next 20 years, it's vital to become tech-conversant,” says Anushikha S. , an incoming Master of Science student at Stanford.

Technology is increasingly becoming an integral part of our lives, and being able to work effectively with it will be a game-changer in any industry, she adds.

According to LinkedIn data, as many 76% of Indians between the age of 18-25 believe that in the future,?employers will value professionals with diverse skill sets and experiences over those who just specialised in a certain job function, and companies will value skills more than degrees as a prerequisite for jobs.

More than 70% also believe that soft skills will be valued more by companies than hard skills.

?? See Anushikha’s post on what tech development she’s looking forward to

What future tech developments are you looking forward to the most? Share your thoughts using?#TechWrapIndia .

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Reported by: Isha Chitnis

Creator Manager: Raunak Ramteke