Coursera, the online skills training platform, has unveiled a list of 10 tech skills projected to be in high demand in 2024. In its Job Skills of 2024 report, Coursera highlighted system security, software architecture, Linux, System Design, React (Web Framework), Computer Security Incident Management, Django (Web Framework), Cyberattacks, Security Software, and Security Strategy among the top sought-after tech skills for the year.
The report emphasizes the significant role of developers in this surge, with three of the ten fastest-growing tech talents being developer skills—software architecture, React (a web framework), and Django (a web programming framework). The demand for developers is rising across various sectors, notably among government-affiliated learners, and aligns with global job growth projections. In the United States alone, over 400,000 new developer jobs are anticipated by 2031.
The evolving skill requirements for developers, driven by AI-augmented tools like Github Copilot, contribute to the increasing need for these roles. Additionally, the report notes a potential shift where job-seekers and current employees from non-technical backgrounds seek to expand their skill sets into new areas. A staggering 73% of employees globally express a lack of readiness to acquire the digital skills demanded by businesses today.
Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, shared insights into the report’s background, highlighting that the findings are based on insights from five million enterprise learners associated with 3,000 businesses, 3,600 higher education institutions, and governments in over 100 countries. These learners, who access Coursera for employment readiness and upskilling, offer valuable data to identify meaningful skill trends. The report not only explores the fastest-growing skills in business, technology, and data science but also delves into the most rapidly growing AI, cybersecurity, and leadership skills.
Maggioncalda stressed the importance of providing employees with the necessary tools to succeed in an increasingly technologically advanced, artificially intelligent, and globalized world. With concerns about the preparedness of recent graduates for industry demands, exacerbated by the rapid development of artificial intelligence, businesses are recognizing the need to stay competitive by addressing skills gaps.