Communications is an umbrella term for a wide range of jobs, including PR, writing, social media, marketing, fundraising, and more. And while these types of communications jobs can vary in their day-to-day tasks, they all have one thing in common: spreading a message to consumers or businesses. As the job market evolves, so do communications jobs. Think about it. Do we communicate in the same way we did 10 years ago? Of course not.
Here are some ways communications jobs are evolving.
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1. As Technology Evolves, Communications Jobs Evolve With It
The main reason communications jobs evolve is due to technological advancements. There are more tools to communicate today than there were even five years ago. For example, jobs within social media evolve as social media does. In fact, over the last decade, social media has evolved from one platform to 17+ with over 300 million active users.
2. Gen Z Is Bringing a Fresh Perspective
Gen Z is bringing a fresh perspective to communications jobs. About one in four workers are part of this generation, and since they’ve entered the workforce, they’ve brought a new work culture—one that is more inclusive, authentic, casual, and honest.
Additionally, they are the most tech-savvy generation yet. They’re more likely to understand new workplace communication technologies than older generations.
3. There’s a Wider Net of Communications Jobs Today
As technology evolves in communications, new types of jobs have been created under the communications umbrella. A social media manager wasn’t the same role that it is today.
Today, there are teams dedicated solely to a single social media app.
“Our team has two ‘wings.’ We have what we call the ‘core social’ team, which encompasses Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and Telegram. And then we have the Instagram team, which is about 8-9 people focused on IG,” shares Travis Lyles, deputy director of social media at The Washington Post.
4. Communications Jobs Are More Valued Than Ever
Since COVID-19 emerged and companies had to quickly adjust their plans, the importance of communication became clear. Employers had to figure out how to communicate effectively with their employees, and employees in communications had to present messages in ways they hadn’t before.
As companies continue to embrace remote work, writing is becoming more crucial than ever.
5. Communications Jobs Are Predicted to Grow
Communications jobs are not only valued in new ways but are also expected to grow. According to a recent USC Annenberg Study, PR and communications budgets are expected to grow 11% over the next five years.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also published statistics to back this prediction: employment within communications is set to grow at a rate of 14% over the next 10 years—faster than the average for all other occupations.
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