Best Digital Skills to Learn in 2023

There is no disputing the fact that the world is rapidly evolving and this has led to the rise of new digital skills.

Advanced technology is already shaping the world, which has brought a change in the way we do things. The business world has witnessed a paradigm shift as a lot of businesses are going digital to be able to keep up with the pace of today’s world.

In the workplace, the nature of jobs is changing, and the transition has influenced the growth of new skills (digital). Having a digital skill in today’s world cannot be overemphasized as it has become a necessity for one to advance his or her career.

There is no other better time to acquire relevant skills than now because for one to stay relevant, one has to possess a digital skill.

Being reluctant about acquiring a digital skill will only lead to redundancy in one’s career and also lead to so many missed opportunities as well as earning meager pay from low quality jobs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the number of jobs requiring digital skills will increase by 18 percent. Also, a report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), revealed that about 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require some level of digital skills in 2030.

While some think that their level of digital knowledge is good for the workplace, research has disclosed that 52% of employees lack important digital skills. Before giving you a rundown of the five (5) best digital skills to learn in 2023, let’s define what digital skills are.

Digital skills

Google defines “digital skills as the skills needed to use digital devices, communication applications and networks to access and manage information, from basic online searching and emailing to specialist programming and development”.

Here is a list of Top (5) best Skills to learn in 2023

1.) Software Development

Software development refers to a set of computer science activities dedicated to the process of creating, designing, deployment and supporting software. It is the process programmers use to build computer programs.

A software developer is a person or company engaged in the software development process. Software development has been reported to be a high demand skill globally which comes with a very good salary. It can be faster to get a job as a software developer, compared to other skills, and one can easily monetize this skill on freelancing platforms.

2.) Data Analyst

Data has no doubt changed the face of our world over the last decade as businesses and organizations are increasingly depending on data to make critical business decisions, which is why Data analysis is a top demand skill to learn in 2023.

Data analysis has been rated as one of the top demand skills worldwide as data analysts are sought after by big organizations globally. Data analysts typically move on to higher positions like Senior data analysts, data scientists, business analysts, analytics manager, etc.

Higher responsibilities come with a substantial pay rise. It is reported that the average annual salary of data scientists starts at around $73,528. It is interesting to note that some of the world’s top companies such as Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Google all have data analysts.

3.) UX Designer/ Product Design

The user experience (UX) design is the process design teams used to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. It also involves integrating the product, including aspects of design, branding, usability and function.

The UX designer creates a friendly/compelling experience for users of a product. Reports reveal that the demand for UX designers is steadily increasing. In 2020 LinkedIn ranked it as one of the top 5 demand skills, while Glassdoor added it as one of the best 50 skills to have.

Also, CNN predicted that the demand for UX designers will grow by 13% from 2017-2027. In order to maintain a competitive edge in today’s world, a lot of businesses are being forced to invest more into their UX in order to maintain a competitive world. One of the best ways to search for UX design jobs, is to do some quick searches on sites like LinkedIn, Indeed or Glassdoor.

If you are considering pursuing a career in UX design, be rest assured that your prospects as a new UX professional are promising, especially if you can cultivate a skill set that set you apart. The demand for the skill is high. UX designers are one of the most in-demand positions in technology, with 87 percent of hiring managers stating that acquiring UX designers is a top priority.

4.) Digital Marketing Specialist

A digital marketing specialist is someone who is responsible for developing and managing digital marketing strategies and campaigns. Also, a digital marketing specialist works alongside a company’s marketing team to identify a target market, create a brand image and also create and maintain a marketing campaign for the internet and for digital technologies.

This is a top demand skill, as every business needs to make more sales, as such, a digital marketer is needed to help promote software, websites and mobile app that has been built by the programmer. The digital marketing specialist role is among the top 10 most in-demand jobs, with over 860,000 job openings.

The most requested experience in digital marketing includes social media, content strategy, analytics, SEO,  and more. Globally, digital marketing expertise is the number one skill by marketers on their LinkedIn profile.

5.) AI & Machine Learning

AI is considered one of the top three skills for the future, as employers are always on the lookout for people who possess such skills. The aviator creating a machine learning algorithm is also a key skill for companies.

AI and machine learning jobs have jumped by almost 75 percent over the past four years and have been predicted to keep growing. Industries across the globe are already using AI and machine learning.

Conclusion

Having any digital skill in today’s world has become a necessity, as it helps to create financial independence and also helps to implement technology to advance one’s career

As the world is rapidly evolving, any individual with a digital skill has a better advantage over those who don’t. Through digital skills, most barriers are broken which enables one to communicate and deliver products without any restrictions.

Technology has come to stay. It is wise for one to ensure that they are equipped with a digital skill to be able to easily navigate the fast-paced digital world.