New report shows high demand for real-time 3D skills in global job market
January 27, 2021
Last year, we commissioned Burning Glass Technologies, a labor market analytics firm, to research the demand for 3D graphics and real-time 3D skills in the US workforce. The report found robust demand for competency in 3D graphics across multiple industries, with a particularly significant increase in the demand for real-time 3D skills, pegged at 601% faster growth than the job market overall.
In an addendum to the initial report, we have once again collaborated with Burning Glass to broaden this research to encompass an international selection of other English-speaking countries around the world—including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore—as well as 20 European Union nations.
As before, Burning Glass mined their database of nearly a billion historical and current job postings for a list of keywords associated with 3D graphics and real-time 3D.
The results are in, and they did not disappoint: the research clearly shows that 3D graphics and real-time 3D skills are in high demand across the globe, and that this demand is growing at a significant rate—in some cases, showing even more noteworthy trends than for the US.
In an addendum to the initial report, we have once again collaborated with Burning Glass to broaden this research to encompass an international selection of other English-speaking countries around the world—including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore—as well as 20 European Union nations.
As before, Burning Glass mined their database of nearly a billion historical and current job postings for a list of keywords associated with 3D graphics and real-time 3D.
The results are in, and they did not disappoint: the research clearly shows that 3D graphics and real-time 3D skills are in high demand across the globe, and that this demand is growing at a significant rate—in some cases, showing even more noteworthy trends than for the US.
Demand for real-time 3D skills is seeing global growth
In the European and English-speaking non-US countries the study analyzed, there were almost 34,000 job openings where real-time 3D skills were identified as being in demand in 2019. Since 2013, all countries where growth data was available showed at least a doubling in demand for these skills, with Singapore showing an incredible 30-times greater demand.
Based on international job posting data from five English-speaking nations and 20 nations of the European Union.
Growth in demand for 3D graphics and real-time 3D skills is outstripping overall job market growth
In the countries studied, demand for 3D graphics and real-time 3D skills is outpacing the overall job market growth by more than 10%. What’s more, growth in the demand for these skills is over 50% faster than that of the average information technology skill.Increasingly diverse industries are demanding 3D graphics and real-time 3D skills
As the use of 3D graphics and real-time 3D technology becomes more and more ubiquitous, we are seeing these skills considered essential across architecture and construction, civil engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, graphic design, interior design, and game development. But we are also seeing demand in industries that had not previously registered it. From requests for Unreal Engine skills in media and design, to requirements for 3D rendering skills in fashion design, demand for 3D digital skills is emerging in new sectors.
Growth in demand for real-time 3D skills is overtaking growth in demand for 3D graphics skills
In English-speaking countries across the world, real-time 3D skills are pulling ahead of 3D graphics skills in terms of growth in demand. In Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, the market for real-time 3D skills has grown by over 450%, an impressive ten times faster than that for 3D graphics skills.Demand for Unreal Engine skills is growing rapidly
Demand for Unreal Engine has quadrupled since 2013 in the UK, and increased fivefold over the same time period in Canada, while the EU also shows strong demand, with 900 job postings in Germany alone requesting this skill. Burning Glass predicts that Unreal Engine will grow 138% globally in the next 10 years.In-demand 3D digital skills are attracting salary premiums
With demand outstripping supply, workers with skills in 3D graphics and, in particular, real-time 3D graphics are attracting salaries that well outstrip the market average, and this gap is increasing. In Canada, jobs requiring real-time 3D skills attracted a salary over 70% higher than average market salaries, while in the UK, jobs specifically requesting Unreal Engine skills paid 34% above the average market salary.
Overall, it’s clear from the report that gaining 3D graphics—and especially real-time 3D—skills provides a considerable opportunity for advancement for those seeking to enter the workspace or move up the career path.
You can read the entire report addendum: Visualizing the Future Globally on Burning Glass’ website.
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