The future is now. With the COVID-19 pandemic blurring time and driving, in large part, recent workforce transformations (welcome to working from home) the U.S. job market is undergoing rapid changes as adjustments are made to catch up with society, medicine, and technology.
Therefore it stands to reason that the jobs of the future are going to be different than the ones we work for today. Many of the positions that will be in high demand in the coming decades may have not even been invented yet. With new advancements in technology and medicine consistently propelling change, the future of jobs is constantly evolving.
Although no one can predict exactly how jobs will evolve, there are some careers that are expected to be in higher demand in the years to come. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastest growing occupations (minus growth due to pandemic recovery) are as follows:
As seen in the chart, many of these positions are in medicine and healthcare, such as nurse practitioners, physical therapists, home health care aides, and physician assistants. While other careers are rooted more in technology and data information management like wind turbine technicians, statisticians, information security analysts, data scientists, and mathematical science occupations.
The healthcare sector is expected to see an increase in demand for employees as the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be over one million new nursing jobs by 2024. This demand for nurses is increasing due to pandemic-related burnout, the aging population, and the perseverance of the Affordable Care Act. Nurses can expect to make an average salary of $68,000 per year.
It should come as no surprise that technology is also predicted to play a big role in the jobs of the future. With new technological innovations in fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics, it is expected that many new jobs will be created in this area. These positions typically pay quite well, with some computer scientists making six-figure salaries.
And if these careers are not exciting enough, LinkedIn has even predicted 15 jobs that companies will be recruiting for in 2030 – for those who like to plan ahead. These prophesied jobs include the following:
- 1. Organ creator
- 2. Augmented-reality journey builder
- 3. Metaverse planner
- 4. Biofilm installer
- 5. Earthquake forecaster
- 6. Makeshift structure engineer
- 7. Algorithm bias auditor
- 8. Rewilder
- 9. Human-machine teaming manager
- 10. Digital currency advisor
- 11. Drone traffic optimizer
- 12. Autonomous car mechanic
- 13. Smart home design manager
- 14. Agile supply chain worker
- 15. Trash engineer (aka, Garbage designer)
So what does all this mean for those looking for a job? It means that you should always be prepared to learn new skills and be willing to switch careers if necessary. The future of jobs is ever evolving, so you need to do the same and be prepared for anything. Keep your mind open and stay up-to-date on all the latest advancements, plan ahead, and you will be sure to find a great job in the years to come!
