Beyond Covid-19: ‘futureproof’ jobs in Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain

The Covid-19 global pandemic has changed the way we work. It has increased the pace of what is already identified as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. For many people, it has meant unemployment. Those looking to invest in reskilling or upskilling in order to better position themselves in the jobs market should look to qualifications that are future proof.

Most people have heard of Blockchain as the distributed ledger technology behind cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, but it can be applied in every sector where verified information is required quickly and securely. In 2019, Glassdoor described Blockchain as “one of the hottest tech skills on the market”.

The same article acknowledges the challenges in hiring for this emerging technology. The impetus towards digitisation caused by Covid-19 has increased the pressures on employers to understand and hire for this skill. Deloitte’s 2020 Global Blockchain Survey notes that “business leaders now see it as integral to organisational innovation”.

Qualification in this emerging technology puts graduates at the forefront of an expanding jobs market. National College of Ireland (NCI) offers a part-time Higher Diploma specialising in Blockchain, designed for those coming to ICT from other disciplines.

“At level 8, this course doesn’t assume that you already understand computing, but rather starts by guiding your problem-solving processes and teaching you technical skills. A facility for logic and language is definitely an advantage, and the hard work it takes to learn the fundamentals really pays off when you begin to specialise,” says Sean Heeney, who lectures on the Higher Diploma in Science in Computing at NCI.

Also starting with the basics and working to a sought-after expertise is the Higher Diploma specialising in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning.

At the core of AI and Machine Learning is pattern recognition, which allows computers to quickly react to certain scenarios, to spot anomalies, and to repeat processes consistently without losing concentration. The value to business is clear – but first businesses need to find employees with the necessary technological skills.

KPMG considers AI and Machine Learning to be “key components of the Fourth Industrial Revolution” and vital skills to cultivate in order to encourage foreign direct investment through Ireland’s workforce. A recent survey by PwC and the Analytics Institute reports that Irish business leaders know that AI is essential to maintaining their competitive advantage, but 52% express concern that they will not be able to meet demand for AI skills in the workforce.

The Government’s Future Jobs Ireland report clearly identifies Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence as areas in which Ireland is experiencing a ‘skills gap’. Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020, and provides courses designed to address the country’s skills gaps.

At NCI, the Higher Diplomas specialising in Blockchain and AI/Machine Learning are funded by Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1, and so are free of charge to those who are currently not working, and 90% of the cost of fees is covered for those who are in employment

Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence are ‘cutting edge’ technologies: give yourself a ‘cutting edge’ in the jobs market, with a qualification in an area where the supply of suitable candidates cannot yet meet the demand by employers.

Want to learn more about National College of Ireland’s funded courses in blockchain and AI & Machine Learning? Register for their online sample class taking place on Tuesday 28th July at 6 pm.

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