The job market is constantly changing with job creation happening in some areas and other careers seeing the number of opportunities and salaries decline. Thankfully there is plenty of market research into projected employment growth and decline allowing individuals to make an informed choice as to the bachelor degrees or other training they undertake now to ensure they have the required skills for the future job market.
Research undertaken by the McKinsey global institute suggests that up to 50% of tasks currently performed by workers globally could be automated. And it is this move toward automation that could have the biggest impact on the future of job security in these areas. While in most cases not all tasks can be taken over by machines, just as was the case in the industrial revolution the number of workers required will fall.
However, alongside a decline in future jobs in some professions, others will see a steady rise in roles needing to be filled. One of the fastest-growing job areas is that of medical and health care providers. An aging population combined with the fact that you simply cannot replace medical professionals with computers, at least not yet, means that roles at all levels from home health aides to doctors nurses, physical therapists, and healthcare administrators are all on the rise.
Other areas that are expected to grow over the coming years include information security, renewable energy, computer science, and information technology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers are two of the top three fastest-growing professions, with nurse practitioners coming in at number 2, while petroleum engineers who deal with extracting oil and natural gas will see growth at just 3%. Suggesting that climate change is making renewable electric power a good career field to get into.
Job Skills You Can Develop Now That Will Guarantee Job Security
If you want guaranteed job security one of the safest jobs for the future is a career in medicine and healthcare. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projections put nurse practitioners, occupational therapy assistants, home health and personal care aides, physical therapist assistants, medical and health services managers, and physician assistant all in the top ten fastest-growing occupations. With home health and personal care aides alone accounting for over a million jobs that don’t currently exist.
Other growing medical occupations that didn’t make the top ten include speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, dental hygienists, and counselors. This career field could lead you into physical therapy for athletes, becoming a registered nurse, delivering babies, or any number of other specializations.
The other benefit of getting into the medical profession is that the educational requirement varies between roles so while some higher paying jobs will require a doctoral degree others need a master’s degree, associate degree, or on-the-job training. Registered nursing would be a great in-demand skill to have to ensure you are never out of work again.
If the medical profession doesn’t appeal software development, data science, information security, and renewables are all growing areas that developing skills in now will mean you are ahead of the game in the future. Software engineers command a good salary, averaging over $100,000 and projected growth of 22% which is way above the average. Web developers and digital designers are also seeing above-average growth and can expect average salaries of around $77,000.
How to Secure Your Dream Job in 2030
Securing your dream job in 2030 whether it’s in graphic design, digital marketing, operations research, or risk management means ensuring you have the skills and experience that employers are looking for.
If your dream job is in artificial intelligence then you’re likely to need a related degree sp there’s little point in training as a financial advisor. Likewise, if you want to become an information security analyst you are better off studying with data scientists than fine artists.
When you turn up for a job interview now or in the future you need to be able to demonstrate your skills such as critical thinking, sales or innovation as well as your level of education, and many of these skills are very transferable meaning that even if job roles change in the next ten years you will still be a desirable employee, and in many cases more desirable than someone who has all the qualifications on paper but no experience or transferable skills.
Dying Professions You May Want To Avoid
While some jobs are projected to grow rapidly, and other jobs will always be in demand, there are careers that are likely to see a decline in the number of positions available. This is an impact of automation as well as transformations in the way we do things. Some jobs such as civil engineering or plumbing will always be required, while others may fade into insignificance.
With the jobs market constantly changing some job roles that are looking to decline in the future include travel agents, real estate agents, bookkeepers, middle managers, data entry clerks, and door-to-door salespeople.
However many jobs skills are transferable and many people working in these areas will find they are naturally able to transition toward the jobs of the future without significant re-training. If you are just starting out though or looking to make a career change you might be better off choosing an area with growth prospects and job security.