1

Abstract — With the advent of high speed computing, the internet, the integrated networks and the wide bandwidth through optical networking, new opportunities are being created in the “Digital Economy”. These opportunities are opening the next frontiers of job markets and giving rise to a creative workforce called the “Knowledge Workers”. But just as the bedrock notions of technology have changed in recent years, so have the tricks and skills of the technical workforce who are urgently needed to sustain the market needs and serve the changing face of the digital economy. In this paper, the emergence of an information based global society will be acutely examined and the characteristics of the knowledge workers will be presented. The paper will focus upon: • Information Technology (IT) and its impact upon the 21st century work environment. • Next frontiers of job market and career trends in a changing digital economy. • Areas of engineering education, technical training and “skill sets ” to meet the shifting demands of the high technology workplace. The paper will conclude with the development of a model engineering education curriculum designed to address the “skill gap ” of the current workforce