****This article has been updated to remove a factoid discussing IoE and manufacturing job growth.****

We have entered the world of the Internet of Everything (IoE)-a world that brings people, data, processes and things together into a vast web of connectivity. From wearable devices that monitor our vital statistics to household appliances that anticipate our needs to smart cars that detect traffic jams and automatically re-route our journeys, the IoE represents an increasingly digital and mobile world that promises to improve our lives.

Twenty-five billion devices will be connected by next year, and that number will grow to 50 billion by 2020. All of this new data that the IoE generates will change the job landscape forever.  These are exciting developments with unprecedented potential, but the rapidly expanding IoE requires specialized skill sets that don't yet exist, resulting in a critical talent gap.Cisco is on a campaign to close this gap and fuel the networking field with the talent it needs to grow. The intent is to empower current and next-generation IoE scientists, engineers and innovators with the education they need to proactively manage their careers and position themselves for what's to come.

For more information on how the IoE will transform business, check out the video below.

Cisco recently introduced a new portfolio consisting of IoE related curricula, assessments and an upcoming Specialist Certification to advance skills development in industrial networking. Cisco is working with industry partners and other academia to significantly increase the number of technical graduates helping meet the overall skills market need of 222,000 each year between 2014 and 2022.

To learn more about the training and certification offerings available, visit: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/internet_of_things