The Emerging Middle Skills Job Market

Your Opportunity to Gain a Competitive Edge

Have you ever found yourself in a job interview trying to sell yourself, but you knew you might come up a bit short on skills? Maybe you had to fall back on the old “I’m a people person” or “I’m a quick learner.” In today’s specialized job market, those skills are still valuable, but they are just one part of the total package employers are seeking.

The fact is, most employers do not have the time or resources to teach you the specific skills you need to do the job. While many people believe their bachelor’s degree is sufficient to get a foot in the door, far too many colleges and universities are churning out graduates who do not possess the specific skills they need to be competitive. Commonly called the middle-skills job market, there are a growing number of job openings that require very specific expertise and certifications.

In a recent presentation at the CECU CEO Summit, Burning Glass Technologies CEO Matt Sigelman outlined some of the most sought-after skills, most of which are rooted in digital technology. He says that digital middle skills jobs are twice as likely to pay a living wage and cites these skills clusters as being among the most desirable:

• Productivity Software
• Health Care Technology
• Customer Relationship Management
• Computer & Network Support
• Social Media & Search Engine
• Health Information Technology
• Machining Technology
• Digital Media & Design

Moreover, Sigelman says production is now becoming a software field and demand is rising. Specifically, he says demand for advanced skills, such as robotics and Internet of Things, is projected to undergo rapid growth over the next five years. In particular, he projects that demand for skills around the “Internet of Things” will grow nearly 400 percent over the next decade, surpassing demand for Artificial Intelligence skills by 2018, and the demand for Robotics skills will more than double over the next decade.

Additionally, Sigelman stresses that the most competitive job seekers are one who possess professional certifications. Case in point, he cites IT help desk jobs where he says those with an A+ Certification can command a five percent salary premium ($2,030). Additionally, he says IT networking pros can garner salary premiums anywhere from 12 percent ($5,350) for certifications like Network+ to 22 percent ($10,027) for CISCO Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) to as high as 57 percent ($26,375) for those possessing a CISCO Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) or Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA).

Among the fastest growing IT skills projected global 2-year growth, Sigelman includes:

• Internet of Things
• Docker Software
• Oracle Cloud
• DevOps
• Cyber Security
• AWS Redshift
• Microsoft Azure
• Threat Intelligence
• Puppet
• Cloud Security
• Amazon Web
• Cloud Security
• AWS EC2
• Cloud Security
• Heroku
• SolarWinds
• Network Access
• Hyper-V
• Network Analytics
• Virtual Private

If you’d like to develop the skills to work in this emerging digital world, take a look at ECPI University. Our degree programs align very closely with the skills cited in the Burning Glass report, and include:

• Cloud Computing
• Software Development
• Cyber and Network Security
• Web Development
• Database Programming
• Electronics Engineering Technology
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Mechatronics
• Health Information Management
• IT Management