Fears are increasing that jobs will be cut and that robots and systems will replace humans, and they are the same fears that our ancestors had when
Fears are increasing that jobs will be cut and that robots and systems will replace humans, and they are the same fears that our ancestors had when they learned about computers in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
But just as the industrial revolution came, the modern digital revolution comes to eliminate jobs, and in return create new jobs that we may not even think of.
These are six future careers you may want to consider for yourself or your children.
1- Alternative energy engineer
As fossil fuels start running out, alternative energy sources will have to be found. This industry will be constantly growing in the future, and attract many experiences for employment.
From renewable energy sources to other yet undiscovered energy sources, alternative energy will be the future. This is where the alternative energy engineer comes in.
Such engineers would specialize in this area and be responsible for energy in everything from generating sites to power plants for cities. They will be required to evaluate and design the best sustainable energy sources for society as a whole.
Majors in this field are already available at MIT, the University of Texas and Austin.
2- Waste Solutions Engineer
Humans generate an estimated 1.1 billion kilograms of waste every year. Most of this is simply buried underground, but there is a growing industry to reuse, recycle, or burn it for energy.
It is clear that simply burying it is an extreme waste and is not sustainable, especially in the long term. Humanity needs innovative solutions to manage this waste.
This is what waste engineers do in the future. Where they can devise sustainable technologies and solutions for the disposal or recycling of this waste so that it can be used.
The word “waste” might change in order to improve the job title, but the future of this profession is promising in terms of working conditions and salaries.
Currently, there are few institutions that offer similar degrees in this field. Possibly a sub-major of current engineering degrees such as civil engineering or chemical engineering.
3- Organ Industry Specialist
The need for replacement organs increases every day. A new donor is added to waiting lists for transplants every 12 minutes or so.
Here the need arises to print or develop organ-making on demand, and future organ makers must be able to create new organs and parts from patient stem cells and other materials that have not yet been discovered.
This could be one of the more interesting and rewarding career options in the near future.
It is clear that the candidates will need a solid background in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with a special focus on biology, genetics and biomedical engineering.
Some of the institutions that lead the world in this field include Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Duke University in North Carolina.
4- Internet of things repair technician
Calling plumbers or other technologists when something goes wrong with your home appliances is a common practice today. But as our homes gradually get “smarter”, what will we do when our IoT gadgets go wrong or hack?
Maybe IoT repair technologist will become an actual job in the future. The security of these smart things in the home is a real daily concern, and this is where the need for such technicians arises.
Like any IoT repair technologist, you will be responsible for thwarting hackers before they cause any damage and repairing any damage that you cannot prevent.
Candidates need a strong background in science, technology, innovation, critical thinking and information technology.
Current related disciplines overlap between computer science, computer engineering and mechanical engineering.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, and Carnegie ranked highest for these majors worldwide.
5- Special Aviation Instructors
While flight instructors do exist, the long-awaited personal flying vehicle revolution will need someone to teach others how to fly.
The lessons will cover the basics of operating flying vehicles, but they may also need to include instructions on navigation and flight safety, among other skills.
This will clearly need a background in basic subjects such as mathematics, technology, critical thinking, people skills, and other related topics.
It may also require experience in areas such as communications, physics, computer science and of course, experimentation.
6- The commercial astronaut
It may be part of your future job listing in space. As entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Richard Branson spend their commercial space programs, civilian teleportation may soon become a reality.
But the astronauts of these commercial spacecraft will need some specialized training and education before allowing the enterprising individuals to go out into space.
Certainly, instructors will need to undergo similar training to astronaut training, and they will also need other flight training skills that are very similar to commercial aircraft pilots today.
It is likely that this profession will be incredibly challenging and rewarding and will be active in space.
These types of careers require that candidates have strong backgrounds in basic principles of science, technology, and mathematics, and they will likely need university degrees in areas such as space engineering, physics, and computer science. You may also need to have excellent physical and mental health.
