Posted inSoftware

Why coding is vital for the future of work

With more schools compelled to build a larger focus on computer sciences and coding languages, we can take this as a glimpse into what the future workforce will look like

Imad Jomaa, Founder and President, JGroup

As software and innovative technologies take up more room in all industries, it is important that we understand its role and how we can enhance our skills to benefit our economy. Coding is basically writing out instructions for a computer to carry out. As simple as that may sound, coding has developed into a lucrative skill to have today, as well as in the future to sure the scalability of all industries. With new languages being developed, such as TypeScript, Nim and Python 3, and coding’s ability to impact everyone’s work, it is vital that we keep up with this exciting, dynamic field.

At this point, we know how invasive new tech can be, not just in our daily lives but also at our workplace. Looking back at an early tech-driven revolution, computers completely changed the way people perceived a regular 9 to 5 job. Cell phones were the next big accessory for any professional and now, coding has become the latest technological skill we all need to pick up. It is also a way to future-proof your job as technological innovations make their way across the workforce.

At this rate, we have seen machines take over all kinds of work like manufacturing, cashiers, banking and much more. We can already see technological advances taking over jobs that are still in demand today such as driving, piloting, stock trading and even logistics. So how can you ensure you won’t lose your job to a computer? The answer is simple – embrace technology and work with computers rather than against them.

In fact, learning to code is a way for any employee to upskill and become a valuable asset to the workforce. Coding will also help you achieve a higher level of tech literacy which can help open new doors in your career. With a deeper understanding of how tech works, you can become an expert at troubleshooting and debugging programmes, which would be a very useful skillset desirable to any organisation.

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Globally, there have been many efforts to start training children to code in order to set them up for a brighter future and career. In Dubai alone, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum recently launched $1 million coding challenge encouraging students to get involved. With more schools compelled to build a larger focus on computer sciences and coding languages, we can take this as a glimpse into what the future workforce will look like and what we can do to keep up with emerging skills to keep our skillset in demand.

Another comfort we can take with coding becoming a part of the workforce is that machines cannot code themselves. Humans will still be a necessary component in the future with anything concerned with coding. This gives us a unique opportunity to solidify our role and protect our position in the workforce by combining our efforts with technological advancements.

We are currently living in a data-driven and technologically enhanced world. With this unique and exciting opportunity at our hands, it is crucial to take advantage of how accessible and in demand coding training has become in recent years. Since it has solidified its place in our work environment, we can expect it to become an even more desirable skillset for employers to look out for as the years pass.