The Future of Jobs: 5, 10, 20 Years and Beyond

It can be difficult to imagine what the world will look like in 5, 10, or 20 years. But with the right information and perspective, you can make educated guesses about what jobs will exist in the future and how technology will influence them. This guide covers all of the jobs that are likely to exist in 5, 10, and 20 years and beyond, as well as their projected growth rates.

How Do People Relate To Their Jobs In The Future?

Researchers like Carl Frey from Oxford’s Martin School argue that workers should adapt their skills to prepare for a rapidly changing job market. The idea is that digital automation will sweep away many jobs in areas such as trucking, manufacturing and food service, so workers will need to develop different skill sets as new professions become available. These include teachers who can instruct students remotely using virtual reality (VR) technology or community managers who facilitate discussion on social media platforms. In fact, there are already some evidence-based efforts underway to do just that. In 2013, Stanford University launched an online course called Designing Your Life with support from LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and others aimed at helping people build careers centred around meaningful work rather than traditional employment.

The workload of  The Future

We live in a world with more technologies than ever before. It’s a world that is changing faster than it ever has. Technology is quickly becoming integrated into every part of our lives – from how we work to how we play. Yet, what many don’t realize is that technology itself also changes rapidly – meaning that some jobs are about to disappear for good. In fact, experts predict that within ten years up to 50% of today’s jobs will be automated by advances in robotics and artificial intelligence. This means that millions of people around the globe could lose their jobs as machines become smarter than humans at performing certain tasks.

What Are the Most In-Demand Jobs Over the Next Decade?

Solar Photovoltaic Installers
The BLS projects that in ten years’ time, one-third of all jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher. But that doesn’t mean college is for everyone. There are plenty of high-demand career fields where you can land a great job with only an associate degree or a vocational certificate. If you want to find more well-paying jobs without going back to school—and without pursuing a four-year degree—take some time to read about these hot careers. How Will Technology Affect Employment?: While it’s impossible to predict exactly how new technologies will change employment, we can make educated guesses based on what has happened in past technological revolutions. For example, there were once hundreds of thousands of elevator operators across America; today there are fewer than 15,000. Automation played a role here—as did changing social expectations around who should operate elevators (it was never women).

Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Solar jobs are on fire. These are some of America’s fastest-growing occupations, according to BLS data. And now for good reason: The solar industry is growing fast! Last year in particular was a huge one for employment in photovoltaic (PV) solar installer positions; they rose by nearly 14%! What’s more? The demand is here to stay—the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job openings in these positions will increase by 42% between 2012 and 2022. In order to get hired as an installer, you’ll need experience working with electrical systems and you’ll have to have your contractor license as well as your own tools. Many installers say it helps if you can already work independently and have entrepreneurial spirit.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Over the next few decades as wind energy continues to grow rapidly in popularity, it is expected that jobs for wind turbine service technicians will increase exponentially. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for technicians will increase by 26% over the next decade. Additionally, a recent report by the U.S. Department of Energy shows that wind power generation has increased by more than 900% since 2008 making it an increasingly popular industry with a huge potential for growth.

Although training can be completed through community colleges or vocational schools, aspiring wind turbine service technicians should possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Many companies require certification which can be obtained through completion of courses at accredited institutions.

Home Health Aides

The amount of elderly citizens is rising steadily; these rising numbers mean we’ll need an increasing number of home health aides to care for them.

As more people live longer (on average, Americans are living 8 years longer than they did in 1960), more opportunities will open up for those who want to become part-time or full-time home health aides.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Home Health Aides will see a 16% increase in jobs by 2024. In addition to caring for older adults, you can also work with disabled individuals who require constant supervision at home.

This requires certification from your state and/or national agency but can be incredibly rewarding work! And as demand rises, so does pay. You can expect to earn between $10-$14 per hour as a certified aide.

Personal Care Aides

Technology will change nearly every job in just about every industry. But healthcare is a sector that might feel it more than others.

AI is being used to predict diseases before they happen, robots are taking over surgical procedures, wearable sensors can monitor vital signs—and there’s likely much more on its way. This leaves us wondering: what jobs will exist in five, ten or twenty years? How many will be automated? What new roles will emerge? And how do we prepare for them now?

The future of work isn’t all doom and gloom; as technology advances, so too does our ability to create entirely new industries. In fact, according to one study by McKinsey & Company, up to 45% of activities could be automated using already demonstrated technology. So while some jobs may disappear entirely (or at least become obsolete), many new ones are sure to emerge from their ashes.

Occupational Therapy Assistants

The occupation of occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is projected to grow 53 per cent from 2012 to 2022. The OTA assists occupational therapists in their work with clients who have physical disabilities resulting from injury or disease; injuries caused by an accident or trauma; developmental disabilities; mental illness, including autism spectrum disorders; or ageing-related problems. OTAs may assist clients in performing daily living activities at home and in other community settings.

They also may work in rehabilitation hospitals, nursing care facilities, or schools that serve people with special needs. Some OTAs specialize in working with individuals who are blind or visually impaired. In addition, some OTAs work independently as consultants to help employers develop effective workplace wellness programs for employees.