Have you ever wondered which jobs will stand the test of time? If you have, then you’d not be surprised to hear that many of the jobs that are currently trending will not exist in the next two to five decades. Some of these jobs are fading away and will be completely gone as early as 2030. The key factors that will drive the future labor market are digital technology, automation, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence. These technologies are revolutionizing the global workforce and almost all the skills you’ll need to stay relevant are related to technology.
1. Data Analysis
Have you ever heard of big data? It is a recent IT field that deals with the systematic extraction and analysis of information. Any data that is too large to be analyzed the traditional way qualifies as big data. Software engineers have tech tools that are created specifically for big data analysis. However, being able to use and interpret data from these tools requires data analysis skills. Statistics have shown that 30% of all the data collected by the year 2025 will be analyzed in real time. Data analysts will be needed to collect the data as it flows.
2. IT Brokerage
Brokerage companies are always ready to benefit from any innovation. Right now, IT services are in high demand and brokerages are there to tap that progress. If you want to become a broker, you can take an online job training course related to that field. Your primary job description will be to link buyers of IT services to sellers. Like every other type of brokerage, you’ll earn a commission on each successful sale you make. Having negotiation skills will make you a good IT service broker.
3. Piloting
The demand for pilots is always high, but it’s set to increase even more in the years to come. The demand for all types of pilots will be on the rise, but the highest demand will be for space pilots. This is all thanks to the upcoming commercial space industry. To become a space pilot, you need to have regular piloting skills. Logging hundreds of hours as a pilot isn’t going to cut it if you want to be a space pilot. You’ll also need to have a background in engineering, astronomy, and astrophysics.
4. Artificial Intelligence Development
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are two technologies that will take the lead in the next technological revolution. AI specialists are like other web developers and tech experts. However, they focus on making computers intelligent and self-aware. Despite all the opposition from those who believe that computers will take over the world, AI is gaining ground across industries. The technology has so many real-world applications and it can be used to make the world a better place. Some of the most common branches of AI are robotics, automation, computer programming, and all the STEM disciplines. There is even room for AI in arts and humanities.
5. UX Design
Just like AI specialists, UX designers work on providing more efficient interactions between humans and machines. As digitization becomes more common, UX design becomes more important. Apple, Google, and Amazon hire UX designers to make sure that their products provide the best user experience. UX design requires more than tech and web designing skills. It also requires a background in business and psychology.
6. Virtual and Augmented Reality Development
Virtual reality is another branch of technology that is changing the world. It allows people to be completely immersed in the virtual world while their bodies remain in the physical realm. VR has a range of applications, from gaming and education to work in different sectors. The technology also has applications in the military. Augmented reality is just like virtual reality. However, with AR, you’ll not be completely immersed in the virtual world. Only some digital elements will be added to the real world. The demand for these technologies will rise in the future.
Conclusion: Gaining Skills for the Future
Taking a look at the list above, can you confidently say that your job skills are up to date? Will you survive in the future workspace? The one thing all these skills have in common is technology. So, you can start by increasing your overall tech skills. After that, pick an area of specialization that interests you and focus on it. Even if you don’t have an immediate need for tech skills, adding them to your resume will do you a lot of good long-term.
Artur Meyster is the CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech.