The Industry Future Series: Exploring the Next Era of Professional Programming

EAB’s Industry Futures is a series of studies conducted across the last decade that investigates the future of particular industries ripe for disruption and change. The goal of these studies is to unpack the changing talent needs and help institutions equip their students with the skills necessary to thrive in the industry of their choice, not only now but in the future as well.

Three variables are considered to identify the best industries for the study:

• Industries tackling a disruptive force like technological advancement, policy overhauls, or shifting demographics
• Those with changing employer needs identified in a quantifiable and trending manner using Emsi Burning Glass job postings and skills data
• Shifting student demand for institutional programs as evidenced by growing enrollments in programs or specialized trainings and heightened demand for alternatives like micro-credentials or badging

While these considerations are not mutually exclusive, they serve as guideposts to identify the industries most likely to experience major shifts in the next five to 10 years.

Industry Futures 2021: The technological advancements of the digital revolution

In 2021, the most impactful trend changing how jobs are performed is one categorized by advances in technologies like automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics, known as the Digital Revolution. These new technologies build upon advances in embedded intelligence and big data and will spur the rise of humans working alongside smart machines.

As this transformation takes place and companies begin to integrate new technologies into their business models, employers’ needs shift. Employers increasingly strive to hire those with knowledge of automation, artificial intelligence, and big data as well as those who possess uniquely human skills like critical thinking and project management to adapt to and succeed in changing work environments. From August 2018 to July 2021, Emsi Burning Glass data shows employer demand for professionals with these emerging technological skills grew four times faster on average than employer demand for all professionals.

Currently, however, most institutions struggle to understand the most impactful ways to adjust and change academic programming to keep pace with these technological advancements.