Changing city infrastructure causes spike in demand for urban planning
According to a report, 73 percent of all teams will have remote workers by 2028. As remote work adoption increases and more people are able to live and work where they choose versus where their work is, city infrastructure is also changing. Urban design (#7) specialists are helping keep up with this evolution by arranging and designing public spaces, transportation systems and amenities for residents, tenants and visitors. Geospatial (#10) technologies, which map and analyze the Earth's surface, and architectural renderings (#19) also saw significant growth as the public and private sector alike look for ways to optimize current and future space.
Companies increase investment in eCommerce tools
Global eCommerce sales are expected to reach $4.8 trillion by 2021, and more than 2.1 billion shoppers are expected to buy goods and services online. Experts familiar with Salesforce Commerce Cloud (#9) were highly sought-after last quarter to help companies deliver personalized customer experiences across mobile, digital and social platforms, and Magento (#13), an eCommerce solution recently acquired by Adobe ($ADBE), also experienced high growth as companies look to build new online storefronts to increase online revenue. Shopify templates (#15), which brands are leveraging to ensure storefronts deliver a unified experience, also appeared on this quarter’s list for the first time.
Businesses double down on learning and development
With tightening labor markets, businesses are investing more dollars in developing their workers, and employee training (#14) saw an uptick in demand for the second consecutive quarter as a result. Development extends beyond technical skills and into soft skills such as leadership development (#18), which also appeared on this quarter’s list. Platforms like BetterUp are leading the disruption of the L&D industry; and in addition to investing in formal, corporate programs, companies are turning to freelance specialists to create an overall strategy to ensure their workforce is prepared for tomorrow.
Marketers seek new ways to connect and communicate with customers
Video marketing has proven effective in an era where global consumer Internet video traffic is projected to account for 80 percent of all consumer Internet traffic. Marketers are taking it back to the basics and investing in freelance specialists who can create explainer videos (#4) that help customers better understand complex products or services. Podcasting (#20) has also become a popular way to meet customers where they are; they’re easy to consume and help businesses connect directly to listeners, regardless of location.
Relevant Course List
According to a recent report, younger generation managers are prioritizing reskilling the workforce with 96 percent of Millennial and Gen Z managers saying it is important to reskill or train their workforce. One-third believe that individuals should be responsible for their own reskilling as opposed to the employer or educational institutions.
Here is a list of relevant online courses from online learning platforms, including Coursera, Lynda.com, PluralSight, Skillshare, and Udemy for the top 20 fastest-growing skills on Upwork in Q1 2019:
- US Taxation: U.S. Federal Taxation Specialization (Coursera)
- Hadoop: Hadoop Platform and Application Framework (Coursera)
- Robotic process automation: UiPath - Level 1 Robotic Process Automation (Udemy)
- Explainer videos: Create Your Own Explainer Video: How To Craft The Perfect Pitch! (Skillshare)
- Computer aided manufacturing: CAD and Digital Manufacturing Specialization (Coursera)
- Financial planning: Financial Planning & Management: Finance Strategies & Tools (Udemy)
- Urban design: Designing Cities (Coursera)
- Software documentation: Technical Writing: How to Write Software Documentation (Udemy)
- Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Salesforce Commerce Cloud ( Demandware ) Head Start (Udemy)
- Geospatial: Getting Started with GIS (Skillshare)
- Julia development: Julia Scientific Programming (Coursera)
- Kubernetes: Learn DevOps: The Complete Kubernetes Course (Udemy)
- Magento: Getting Started with Magento (Udemy)
- Employee training: e-Learning Ecologies: Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning for the Digital Age (Coursera)
- Shopify templates: Build a Shopify Theme From Scratch (Udemy)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA): Accounting 101 - Basic Accounting Concepts Explained (Skillshare)
- Vue.js framework: Vue.js Fundamentals (Pluralsight)
- Leadership development: Personal Leadership Development Planning and Leading High Performing Teams (Coursera)
- Architectural rendering: Rendering Impressive Architectural Interiors in 3ds Max and V-Ray (Pluralsight)
- Podcasting: How to Make a Podcast: Plan, Record, and Launch with Success (Skillshare)
