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If youre interested in tech, youve likely heard about therace to develop quantum computers. These systems compute via qubits, whichexist not only as ones and zeros (as you find intraditional processors) but also in an in-between state known assuperposition.

For tasks such as cryptography, qubits and superpositionwould allow a quantum computer to analyze every potential solutionsimultaneously, making such systems much faster than conventional computers.Microsoft, Google,IBM, and other firms are all throwing tons of resources into quantum-computingresearch, hoping for a breakthrough that will make them a leader in thisnascent industry.

Questions abound about quantum computing, including whetherthese systems will actually produce the answers that companies really need. Forthose in the tech industry, theres a related interest in whether quantumcomputing will actually produce jobs at scale.

Thelarge tech companies and research laboratories who are leading the charge onR&D in the pure quantum computing hardware space are looking for peoplewith advanced degrees in key STEM fields like physics, math and engineering,said John Prisco, President & CEOof Quantum Xchange, which markets a quantum-safe key distribution thatsupposedly will bridge the gap between traditional encryption solutions andquantum computing-driven security. This is in large part because thereare few programs today that actually offer degrees or specializations inquantum technology.

WhenPrisco was in graduate school, he added, There were four of us in theelectrical engineering program with the kind of physics training this fieldcalls for. More recently, Ive recently seen universities like MIT andColumbia investing in offering this training to current students, but itsgoing to take awhile to produce experts.

Theresevery chance that increased demand for quantum-skilled technologists coulddrive even more universities to spin up the right kind of training andeducation programs. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)is evaluatingpost-quantum cryptography that would replace existing methods, includingpublic-key RSA encryption methods. Time is of the essence when it comes togovernments and companies coming up with these post-quantum algorithms; thenext evolutions in cryptography will render the current generation pretty muchobsolete.

Combinethat quest with the currentshortage of trained cybersecurity professionals, and you start to see wherethe talent and education crunch will hit over the next several years. Whilehackers weaponizing quantum computers themselves is still a far off proposal,the threat of harvesting attacks, where nefarious actors steal encrypted datanow to decrypt later once quantum computers are available, is already here,Prisco said, pointing at Chinas 2015 hack of the U.S. Office of PersonnelManagement, which saw the theft of 21 million government employee records.

Thoughthat stolen data was encrypted and there is no evidence it has been misused todate, the Chinese government is likely sitting on that trove, waiting for theday they have a quantum computer powerful enough to crack public keyencryption, he said. Organizations that store sensitive data with a longshelf-life need to start preparing now. There is no time to waste.

But what will make a good quantum technologist?

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HermanCollins, CEO of StrategicQC, a recruiting agency for the quantum-computingecosystem, believes that sourcing quantum-related talent at this stage comesdown to credentials. Because advanced quantum expertise is rare, the biggest sign thata candidate is qualified is whether they have a degree in one of the fields ofstudy that relates to quantum computing, he said. I would say that degrees,particularly advanced degrees, such as quantum physics obviously, physicstheory, math or computer science are a good start. A focus on machine learningor artificial intelligence would be excellent as part of an augmented dynamicquantum skill set.

Although Google, IBM, and theU.S. government have infinite amounts of money to throw at talent, smallercompanies are occasionally posting jobs for quantum-computing talent. Collinsthinks that, despite the relative lack of resources, these small companies haveat least a few advantages when it comes to attracting the right kind of veryhighly specialized talent.

Smaller firms and startups canoften speak about the ability to do interesting work that will impactgenerations to come and perhaps some equity participation, he said. Likewise,some applicants may be interested in working with smaller firms to buildquantum-related technology from the ground up. Others might prefer a moreclose-knit team environment that smaller firms may offer.

Some 20 percent of thequantum-related positions, Collins continued, are in marketing, sales,management, tech support, and operations. Even if you havent spent yearsstudying quantum computing, in other words, you can still potentially land ajob at a quantum-computing firm, doing all the things necessary to ensure thatthe overall tech stack keeps operating.

It is equally important forcompanies in industries where quantum can have impactful results in the nearerterm begin to recruit and staff quantum expertise now, Collins said.Companies competing in financial services, aerospace, defense, healthcare,telecommunications, energy, transportation, agriculture and others shouldrecognize the vital importance of looking very closely at quantum and addingsome skilled in-house capability.

Given the amount of money andresearch-hours already invested in quantum computing, aswell as some recent (and somewhat controversial) breakthroughs, theresevery chance the tech industry could see an uptick in demand for jobs relatedto quantum computing. Even for those who dont plan on specializing in thisesoteric field, there may be opportunities to contribute.

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Quantum Computing: Will It Actually Produce Jobs? - Dice Insights