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The Internet of Things and 3D printing are among the top 15 tech trends for 2015. Top-trending IT jobs coinciding with these trends include security and cloud engineers, according to a report from Mondo.
Other top IT jobs this year include iOS and Android developers, mobile user experience designers, big data analysts and data scientists.
The report noted that while mass production remains one of the biggest obstacles to 3D printing, the technology is rapidly evolving. 3D technology has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint by reducing materials waste, creating products with longer life spans, allowing for localized production sites, and enabling companies to make products on more of an as-needed basis,, the report said.
“3D printing is not necessarily transforming IT. It’s that it’s a new technology that’s transforming other industries like manufacturing and biomedical sectors,” Laura McGarrity, vice president of digital marketing strategy for Mondo, told eWEEK. “It does create new job growth within the IT industry. Benefits to consumers include the ability to try and re-work prototypes before going to the market – consumers can expect products made for their specific needs.”
Software-defined infrastructures, or SDIs, are forecast to greatly impact enterprises, and Mondo estimates that 60 percent of CIO budgets will be spent on infrastructure and operations over the next 12-18 months.
The software-defined trend, or SDx, allows storage, servers, and networks to be controlled by software. This means that anyone can connect to anything, anywhere.
“Data and statistics are everywhere now, and there is high demand for scientists who can analyze the data,” she said. “A data scientist needs to be able to manage data, create predictions, and communicate the results.”
In a mobile-first world, demand for mobile app developers and mobile UI designers is at an all- time high and will remain this way for some time, she noted.
McGarrity said BYOD continues to pose security risks, as companies wrestle with securing data on employees’ personal devices. Another tradeoff of BYOD: Employees use their personal devices to tend to their personal life as well as business during business hours, she noted.
McGarrity said that newly-minted college graduates entering the workforce shouldn’t try and be a jack of all trades, but rather be good at specific skills and have practical experience to show potential employers.
“Be open to learning at all times and working in agile teams and work cultures,” she said. “Educate yourself by networking and attending meet-ups and code camps.”