Blockchain Tops the List of the 20 Fastest-growing Skills on Upwork for Q1 2018

Remember when “the cloud” started to gain traction as more and more companies recognized what it was and how it could be used? Blockchain technology is on pace to follow suit. Over the past three quarters, its surge on Upwork.com has exceeded 2,000 percent; during the first three months of 2018, it experienced more than 6,000 percent growth over the same period last year (Q1 2017).

In fact, blockchain is the fastest-growing skill out of more than 5,000 skills on Upwork, according to the latest Skills Index, a quarterly report that ranks the 20 fastest-growing skills to help shed light on new and emerging skills as an indication of hot freelance job market trends.

The freelance skills that made the cut for Q1 2018 experienced a more than 130 percent year-over-year increase in demand. And demand for the top 10 skills grew more than 400 percent compared to the same time period in 2017.

The top 20 fastest-growing skills, Q1 2018

1. Blockchain
2. Tensorflow
3. Amazon DynamoDB
4. Voice over
5. Subtitling
6. Art direction
7. Content strategy
8. Computer vision
9. Microsoft Power BI
10. Augmented reality
11. Chatbot development
12. React native
13. Media buying
14. Go development
15. Information security
16. Scala development
17. Instagram API
18. Adobe Premiere
19. Machine learning
20. AngularJS development

Emerging trends in the freelance marketplace

A look at this list doesn’t just highlight the rise of blockchain technology. It also reflects some of the top trends and opportunities impacting businesses today:

• Demand for AI-related skills such as computer vision, augmented reality, and chatbot development shows companies are embracing it and exploring ways AI can make their business stronger.
• With the Facebook data scandal and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) deadline in the European Union (EU) looming in late May, data security specialists are in high demand. Some businesses are looking for data protection officers to manage their data, but others are turning to information security specialists to help ensure their privacy policies and processes are compliant.
• Popular mobile development languages continue to be in demand as businesses increasingly plan to build mobile apps that can be used on both Android and iOS devices. In fact, AngularJS development has made the Skills Index for seven consecutive quarters—the only skill to do so.
• A majority of CMOs (67 percent) say they plan to increase their digital advertising spend in 2018. Marketing-related skills account for one-third of the Skills Index and reflect that growth as a growing number of marketers turn to freelance specialists instead of traditional agencies.

Read the press release for a more detailed analysis of the Q1 2018 Skills Index >>

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