Online retail giant Amazon is reported to be making a massive departure from the normal stats-hike of smartphone development, as its debut phone, arriving in June, will feature a 3D-capable screen.

This is in sharp contrast to the slowing evolution of established brands in the mobile phone space. Apple, Samsung, HTC and the many others are opting for slight improvements to existing models while the hardware makers are pushing more pixels into the screen at a depth that comes close to imperceptible.

While it’s not an obvious move from the Jeff Bezos led company, it has a precedent, with the Kindle going from curious technological move to (at one point) the second best selling tablet on the planet. 3D is fast becoming the next great step in consumer tech and all the major movers are pushing higher stakes into the game; Facebook have acquired VR start up Oculus Rift, while Microsoft are considering a 3D scanner for inclusion on their next phone. Alongside the software potential, the 3D printing revolution’s continued surge has prompted Fox’s Business division to ask whether it’s set to re-invigorate Amercia’s manufacturing industry.

As a company serving the digital space, the potential disruption and development that 3D proposes is a fascinating situation for us to ponder. As recruitment specialists though we know where there’s development, there’s opportunity and where there’s opportunity there’s jobs. So the stats prove – 3D rendering soared by 43.9% to 2,784 jobs, 3D animation rose by 35.7% to 3,183 jobs and 3D modelling increased 34.5% to 3,230 jobs.

The momentous shift to mobile from desktop continues unabated, with mobile phone jobs increasing by 35.3% to 13,340 positions. That’s only more good news for Amazon who have the chance to effectively own the 3D retail space as they did the online retail space. With a marriage of software, hardware and service in an ecosystem that even lock-in specialists Apple could envy, Amazon could prove to be a very significant dark horse in the race for digital domination.

Within digital jobs though, it hints at a future where certain skill-sets are about to take on another dimension.