Are Workers Ready for the IoT Revolution?

June 13, 2016

New buzzword but same old problem: Where will we find the workforce  of the future?

While "revolution" might be a strong word for the new world of the Internet of Things (IoT), it certainly seems that everyone is talking about the dawning of a new age. Some would argue that it’s really the newer version of machine to machine (M2M) communication; nevertheless it has captured the imagination of the world of data and has become an industry within itself.

With the expected explosive growth of this industry comes the need for workers who are able to make sense of the data generated by the connectivity of machines (and devices that can be equipped with sensors).

Do we have enough developers, coders and hardware professionals with the requisite Big Data knowledge? Not really, according to a study by McKinsey & Company. By 2018, the U.S. alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use Big Data analytics to make effective decisions.

Who will solve this problem? My money is on the business world. They will train people for these jobs of the future. The manufacturing community has done this to get the highly skilled workers they need and they, along with other companies, will do this for IoT skills.

For example, General Electric Co. says that moving its headquarters from Connecticut to Boston was due to the availability of talent in Boston, which is home to 55 colleges and universities. GE is also using its internal resources to train workers at its software center in San Ramon, Calif.

Rockwell Automation is also getting into the IoT training game and has rolled out several courses and a certification program with Cisco.

And the universities are doing their part as well. MIT, for instance, is offering an online course that aims to help professionals who want to make sure they have the skills of the future. The University of California offers a Master’s degree in data science. Carnegie Mellon and Columbia also offer programs.

Not everyone, however, sees the IoT workforce dependent on academia for its development. Robert Cohen of the Economic Strategy Institute professes that there will be new categories of jobs in this "gig economy" that don’t require formal degrees.

Material Handling & Logistics is an IndustryWeek companion site within Penton's Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.