Job Outlook for 2017: What You Need to Know

The start of a new year presents a great opportunity to look back at the previous year, evaluate your growth, and take steps to ensure that the next year is better. You may be looking for a job change, or might be finishing your education and looking for your first job.

Your ability to find your dream job depends on a number of factors, including your education background and technical skills, your past experience, your soft skills, and more which are in your control and can be worked upon. There are also various external factors, such as the overall economy, job outlook, required industry skill sets, hiring policies, etc. which are not directly in your control. We tell you everything you need to know about the Indian job market in 2017.

The Indian Job Market & Top Industries – All the Positive Signals

Though the global economy witnessed a slowdown in 2016, the Indian employment market remained healthy and job opportunities were plentiful, with most Indian organizations adding new employees to their rolls. The positive activity is expected to continue into 2017, as per the 2017 “India Salary and Employment Outlook” published by global recruitment leader Michael Page.

According to the report, 60% of companies have stated that they will be adding new employees to their business in 2017, making the outlook very positive for job seekers with the right skills in demand.  A whopping 80% companies that were surveyed suggested that hiring activity will range from steady to strong, and a high focus will be laid upon employee retention, meaning that new job seekers can expect better policies and perks when they join their new jobs. Mid Management roles are likely to account for 45% of new jobs created in 2017, therefore it would be beneficial for job seekers to invest in technical skills as well as managerial experience.

The superb growth of E-Commerce as an industry will result in a significant number of jobs created in 2017, whereas sluggish growth in the real estate sector combined with the effects of demonetization might lead to some slowdown in that industry. IT, in spite of its lackluster performance overall is expected to remain steady in 2017. Law professionals, chartered accountants, in-house HR managers, and certified Project Managers will be in high demand during 2017, as well.

The Top Skills that You’ll Need in 2017

LinkedIn has also revealed “Top Skills That Can Get You Hired in 2017” that provides some interesting insights. As indicated by a similar list from LinkedIn in 2016 as well as our own blog on the Top Online Training Courses in India, Digital Marketing remained one of the most attractive areas in 2015 and 2016. However, as per LinkedIn, 2017 might see the the area beginning to lose its sheen.

LinkedIn Top Skills for 2017 – courtesy LinkedIn

Organizations globally are maturing in their Digital Marketing strategies, and while SEO, SEM and Marketing experts will still be in demand, those who have established themselves through experience and digital marketing courses and certifications will find it easier to get jobs. Data Analysis and Cloud Computing have continued to show magnificent growth throughout 2016, making them the hottest in demand skills in 2017.

Other key areas that are expected to be hiring in numbers in 2017 are UI and UX Design, important primarily because of the huge demand for enterprise applications, enterprise web portals and mobile applications, all of which require high functionality and intuitive design. Data Visualization is also critical for mid-level managers so that insights can be showcased to top management for executive decisions. Recruitment itself will be a key requirement as more and more companies plan to take a much more strategic approach towards hiring and talent management.

2017 therefore presents an excellent opportunity for job seekers to find their dream first job or the change they’ve been looking for. All that’ll be needed is for them to be proactive and equip themselves with the right skills and the right tools. Read our Career Tips that’ll help you get a job in 2017.

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