The article provides an overview of trends in the digital economy that affect the professional training of a modern specialist. The essence of the concept of digitalization and its main components are determined, the author's interpretation of this concept is given. Particular attention is paid to the signs of a digital economy: the presence of a high-tech IT infrastructure, processing of big data based on modern digital technologies, the creation of digital solutions (products, platforms), the design of new business models. A theoretical analysis of scientific literature was carried out and a list of competencies that a specialist in the digital economy should possess was identified. To confirm the results obtained, an analysis of the opinions of employers was carried out, on the basis of which the most significant competencies and professional qualities of a specialist in the digital economy were identified. Based on the results of the analysis of employers' requirements for modern specialists, the tasks of vocational education for the training of a specialist in the digital economy were identified.