With the US job market beginning to slow this month after a feverish six months of gains, one industry flying ahead of many others is blockchain. Buoyed by rapidly growing popularity of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, Dash and Cardano, the jobs market within the blockchain industry has continued to flourish. More than 6,200 blockchain-related job advertisements are currently listed on LinkedIn, up from just 1,000 in June last year, which represented a 3x growth spurt on the previous year.
Nolan Bauerle, head of research at CoinDesk and State of Blockchain Report author:
“The numbers only show part of the scale of growth. In June last year, one of the first smart contracts to run was half way through a record setting $5bn for early stage ICO financing in 2017. Part way through that boom, professionals poured in and helped provide expertise in things like treasury management. Some part of the current selloff in cryptocurrencies is probably the result of growth finance by blockchain companies. The types, varieties, and locations of talented people the industry attracted leave it in a position to pounce.”
David Wachsman, Founder and CEO of blockchain agency Wachsman:
“In 2017, the number of jobs in blockchain grew by 200%, and I expect to see this trend continue throughout 2018. The blockchain industry is among the most vibrant in America, with room for creativity and outside-the-box thinking to shape and reshape the way we think about many other industries, from payments and finance to social media and even to fashion. As blockchain continues to become a more mature technology, the industry supporting it will cement its position as a hotbed of opportunity for dynamic and rewarding careers for every pathway.”