Careers Now and in the Future - part 2
Style’s of Skill & Personality Types Necessary for Future Careers
1. Transitionists – Those who can help make a transition.
2. Expansionists – A talent for adapting along with a growing environment.
3. Maximizers – An ability to maximize processes, situations, and opportunities.
4. Optimizers – The skill and persistence to tweak variables until it produces better results.
5. Inflectionists – Finding critical inflection points in a system.
6. Dismantlers – Every industry will eventually end, and this requires talented people who know how to scale things back in an orderly fashion.
7. Feedback Loopers – Those who can devise the best possible feedback loops.
8. Backlashers – Ever-new technology will have its detractors, and each backlash will require a response.
9. Last Milers – Technologies commonly reach a point of diminishing returns as they attempt to extend their full capacity to the end user. Last milers are people with the ability to mastermind these solutions.
10. Contexualists – In between the application and the big picture lays the operational context for every new technology.
11. Ethicists – There will be an ever-growing demand for people who can ask the tough questions and set standards to apply moral decency to some increasingly complex situations.
12. Philosophers – With companies in a constant battle over “my-brain-is-bigger-that-your-brain,” it becomes the overarching philosophy that wins the day.
13. Theorists – Every new product, service, and industry begins with a theory.
14. Legacists – Those who are passionate and skilled with leaving a legacy.
1. Solar Energy Technician
Like wind energy, solar power will continue to be a major part of humanity's transition toward a clean-energy future. The cost of solar energy keeps dropping year after year, so it's becoming much more affordable for businesses and homeowners. In cities all around the world, solar energy technicians are enjoying stable employment in a growing industry that makes a positive difference.
2. Wind Energy Technician
With climate change threatening to severely damage the world as we know it, it will become more important to move to clean energy sources. Reducing carbon and methane emissions means transitioning away from fossil fuel sources like oil, coal, and natural gas. That means wind energy will likely be a big part of the future. It's already an industry that's grown a lot. And it will likely grow a lot more, meaning that skilled technicians will be needed to help with the installation, maintenance, and repair of giant wind turbines. About 13,000 job openings could be generated for wind energy technicians over the decade that ends in 2028.
3. Nurse Practitioner
Because of an aging and longer-living population, the health care system may have trouble keeping up with the growing influx of patients. Many regions could experience severe shortages of doctors. They'll need more non-physician health professionals with the ability to diagnose and treat patients with various acute and chronic conditions. Registered nurses who get the right kind And between 2018 and 2028, they could benefit from about 169,000 job openings.
4. Software Developer
Computers, robots, and mobile devices are useless without the well-engineered software that gives life to the sophisticated hardware it runs on. As the Internet grows and machines get smarter and more connected to us and to each other, the need for talented software developers will expand. Mobile app development, especially, is considered one of the best careers for 2025 and beyond. In fact, almost 1.35 million total job openings are projected to become available in the software development field between 2018 and 2028.
5. Physical Therapist
With more seniors in our communities, the need for physical therapy professionals will increase. Many seniors end up requiring some form of physical rehabilitation, pain management, mobility assistance, or therapeutic treatment as they age. From 2018 to 2028, about 169,000 jobs may become available for physical therapists. An additional 165,000 jobs could open up for physical therapist assistants.
6. Registered Nurse (RN)
In total, more than 2.1 million jobs are expected to become available for RNs between 2018 and 2028. That number shouldn't be surprising given how quickly the senior population is growing in most regions. In all likelihood, RNs will continue to be in high demand for decades to come, even if their roles change a little because of technological advances and medical breakthroughs.
7. Health Services Manager
The health care sector may undergo more changes over the coming decades than most other industries. Every health and medical organization will need highly knowledgeable leaders and managers to help them adapt to legal, regulatory, and technological changes while still improving the quality and efficiency of the services they deliver. And about 422,000 job openings may become available in this field over the decade that ends in 2028.
8. Data Analyst
Thanks to computing advances and a cultural shift toward more tracking and measuring, the amount of data that gets collected every year grows by an astonishing amount. Organizations of every type now have the ability to gather so much detailed information that it's becoming more and more difficult for a lot of them to figure out what it all means. They need professionals who can not only collect the data they need, but also spot patterns, identify past and current trends, and forecast future probabilities.
9. Digital Content Specialist
One of the major cultural revolutions that keeps getting more entrenched is the move toward more dynamic, digital, interactive, and on-demand media. Because of digital devices that keep us constantly connected to almost any kind of information or entertainment we want to consume, the need for fresh content that breaks through the noise is never-ending. Organizations in every industry are discovering that generating new digital content is becoming a major key to sustaining their effectiveness. That's why digital content specialists—with all kinds of different job titles and abilities—are increasingly in high demand, especially with the growing popularity of remote work and freelance gigs. To prepare for this type of position, it's smart to get training in areas like Internet marketing, writing, and multimedia and digital arts.
10. Information Security Analyst
As our modern way of life gets more intertwined with computers and dependent on information technology (IT), we all become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. So far, we've been lucky that criminal hackers haven't shut down critical infrastructure on a very large scale or for an extended period of time. But that day is probably coming unless we have enough computer security specialists to help the government and essential organizations protect their networks and IT systems. Cybersecurity is a world-wide issue, and the bad guys keep getting more sophisticated in their attacks. From 2018 to 2028, about 128,000 jobs are expected to open up for information security analysts.
11. Computer Systems Analyst
The reasons for getting an education in computer science will probably continue to multiply as information technology grows more complex and intertwined with everything in our lives. That growing complexity is why more and more organizations will likely need systems analysts going forward. Companies will need help choosing and implementing the best hardware and software, including (potentially) robots and artificially intelligent machines. From 2018 to 2028, computer systems analysts could benefit from 534,000 job openings.
12. Biomedical Engineer
Professionals in this field are already starting to revolutionize the health care industry. In fact, biomedical engineering is probably one of the best careers to get into if you want your work to have a positive impact in the years ahead. After all, biomedical engineers are involved in all kinds of cutting-edge research and development. For example, many of them get to design things like sophisticated medical devices, artificial organs, bionic body parts, and biological implants. About 15,000 jobs are expected to become available in this field over the decade from 2018 to 2028.
13. Mechanical Engineering Specialist
Do you want to help develop some of the most exciting emerging technologies? Increasingly, mechanical engineers and mechanical engineering technicians are involved in the design and testing of things like advanced robots, automation equipment, 3D-printing machines, and clean energy devices. It's projected that, between 2018 and 2028, about 229,000 jobs could open up for engineers in this field and roughly 43,000 jobs could open up for technicians.
14. Electronics Engineering Specialist
Like mechanical engineering pros, a lot of people in this field get to help design, test, and evaluate leading-edge technologies. As electronic circuitry and other components get smaller, more complex, and more powerful, it's up to these professionals to figure out how to take advantage of the latest technological advances. They may help develop things like better computers, automated machinery, handheld medical devices, and navigation and communications equipment. Going forward, some of them may even get to work on things like self-driving cars. From 2018 to 2028, job openings are expected to total 52,000 for computer hardware engineers, 90,000 for other electronics engineers, and 127,000 for electronics engineering technicians.
15. Digital Rehab Counselor
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the incredible amount of digital information you consume in a day? Many people do. As more and more of our lives revolve around social media and other online activities, there's a growing awareness that a lot of us are actually addicted to the technology we use. One of the top jobs of the future may involve helping people "detox" from their over-consumption of digital inputs. People with counseling training will likely be the best-equipped to pursue this type of job.
16. Blockchain Developer
You've probably heard of the digital cryptocurrency called Bitcoin. But how much do you know about the underlying technology that makes it possible? Blockchain technology works as a distributed cryptographic ledger that can make economic and other types of transactions decentralized, faster, and more private. It's all a bit hard to understand, but many experts believe that blockchain technology will eventually be just as world changing as the Internet. That's why professionals who understand how to develop practical services and products with blockchain technology will probably be in high demand well into the future.
17. Civil or Commercial Drone Pilot or Dispatcher
The government is figuring out the best way to regulate the use of drones. After all, people continue to dream up new ways to take advantage of their remote flight capabilities. Instead of drones mostly being used for military or recreational purposes, they are increasingly used for all kinds of civil and commercial applications. For example, companies like Amazon envision drones delivering packages. But they could also be used for things like removing waste from city streets, monitoring air pollution levels, and performing routine tasks in high places that are dangerous or hard to reach. Some companies and public agencies are beginning to put together teams of drone pilots and dispatchers to manage their fleets of small remote-controlled aircraft.
18. Smart-Building Technician
With each passing year, more homes, offices, and factories are taking advantage of automation technology to control various building systems such as lighting, heating, air conditioning, and security. Everyday appliances like refrigerators are also becoming part of the growing Internet of Things. In the future, smart buildings may dominate entire cities as people embrace the freedom and convenience of automated control and hyper-connected systems. But there will still be a need for qualified people to install, maintain, and repair those systems. So tradespeople such as HVAC technicians are starting to become smart-building technicians.
19. 3D-Printing Technician
Many futurists believe that we've only just begun to scratch the surface of what 3D-printing technology (aka additive manufacturing) will ultimately be capable of achieving. Hobbyists, industrial designers, biomedical engineers, and other people are already experimenting with on-demand manufacturing of things like tools, food, clothing, everyday household objects, medical implants, and aviation, automotive, and electronics components. As this technology advances, 3D-printing machines may become just as commonplace as refrigerators and microwaves. Eventually, every home and business could have one. And small, localized 3D-printing manufacturers in every town may ultimately replace large remote factories. So, technicians who specialize in maintaining 3D-printing equipment will likely be in growing demand.
20. Augmented Reality Developer
Is the real world too boring? Does it need some visual enhancements that provide extra information or entertainment value? Some people think so. That's why they're developing ways to superimpose digital images and information onto a person's normal perception of the world using special glasses, bionic contact lenses, or other technologies. Augmented reality could eventually have a major impact on everyone's personal and professional lives since it will probably touch every industry, event, and public space. So augmented reality developers are needed to intelligently design and plan the safe and effective use of this technology.
21. Personal Privacy Advisor
As technology evolves and touches more and more aspects of our lives, it's getting harder and harder to maintain our privacy. It's a challenge that will only get more complex as facial recognition and augmented reality technologies become widely adopted. Soon, you may not be able to go out into public without everyone else automatically learning your identity, age, marital status, place of employment, and criminal record (if you have one). Professionals who specialize in helping people protect their privacy—without losing out on some of the main benefits of social media or other technologies—will likely be in demand.
22. Personal Brand Advisor
Even among large, established organizations, hiring freelance professionals for short-term projects is becoming a pretty big trend that may expand well into the future. In fact, many futurists foresee a time when most jobs will be done on a temporary contract basis. If that holds true, workers will need to develop great personal brands and put a lot of effort into constant self-promotion. Personal brand advisors will help their clients establish and maintain public personas and professional reputations that make them stand apart from the competition.
23. Robotics Service Technician
In the decades to come, almost every home could have sophisticated robots that assist with routine housework such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, and lawn maintenance. But those robots probably won't always work as they should. So skilled technicians may be needed to repair or reprogram the robots that get hacked, go haywire, or cease to function. In fact, robot technicians may eventually become just as commonplace as plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, and other types of skilled tradespeople.
24. Remote Health Care Engineer
As robotics and communications technologies get more advanced, it's becoming possible for doctors and other health care specialists to consult with patients without being physically present. Technology is even being developed and perfected to allow surgeons to perform remote operations with the assistance of robots. In the future, many more remote health care engineers will develop and coordinate the use of advanced technology that allows patients to get diagnosed and treated by almost any medical specialist in the world, regardless of where he or she is physically located.
25. Urban Agriculture Specialist
According to the National Intelligence Council, the urban population on Earth grows by the equivalent of about seven Chicago-sized cities each year. In fact, the World Economic Forum predicts that, from 2010 to 2050, the global population of city dwellers will double, reaching about 5.2 billion people. In addition, many of today's industrial farming practices are damaging the natural environment. So, in order for cities to be sustainable, they'll need to grow their own food using sophisticated hydroponics and vertical farming methods. Demand for professional urban farmers will likely grow as more cities and urban dwellers realize that their survival depends on growing food locally.
26. Nanotech Engineer
By manipulating matter at the level of atoms or molecules, it has become possible to imagine and develop a wide range of new innovations. For example, many people in this field envision a future in which self-replicating nanostructures are used in construction and nano-robots are put into the human body to assist the immune system and cure diseases. Nanoscale technologies are already being used to create advanced materials, and they're being incorporated into some electronics and consumer products (like clothing). As this technology matures, nanotech engineers will need to ensure that their creations don't pose a risk to the environment or human health.
27. Biomech Technician
Bionic limbs continue to get more sophisticated. It's possible that, one day, even people without any disabilities will want biomechanical add-ons in order to enjoy super-human capabilities. But the technology will probably be so complex that only people with specialized skill sets will be able to repair it, upgrade it, or tune it up.
28. Genetic Engineer
The idea of custom-designed and made-to-order babies may make a lot of us feel squeamish right now, but people's attitudes could change as genetic engineering matures and more companies begin to commercialize the resulting technology. Besides, advances in this field may also lead to cures for some of our most challenging diseases as well as treatments that slow or even stop the aging process. It will be up to governments to decide how to regulate an industry that will benefit from a lot of pent-up demand.
29. Tech Ethicist
Humanity still hasn't fully learned that we shouldn't do something just because we can. Ethicists have the job of trying to help us avoid learning that lesson the hard way. They help us examine hard-to-answer questions in relation to new technologies and their potential consequences. For example, should we allow the creation of "designer babies?" Who has parental rights when a human is conceived, grown, and born in a laboratory, outside of a mother's womb? Should we grant artificially intelligent robots the same rights we have? How much information are we entitled to know about other people? The questions are almost limitless given how quickly technology is changing our world.
30. Virtual Reality Designer
Most people like to travel and explore places they've never been. However, you don't necessarily have to physically travel anywhere in order to see and experience new places. Whole virtual worlds are being created, and the supporting technology will increasingly allow you to interact with it using all of your senses. A lot of VR users might even form deep relationships with other people's virtual avatars while having adventures that they would never experience in the real world. As this technology matures, what's real and what's fantasy will start to blur together. Talented VR designers may become highly sought-after as VR developers race to fill a growing demand for more sophisticated, realistic, and imaginative virtual experiences.
31. Problem-Solving Competition Director
Some people believe that solutions to humanity's biggest problems can be discovered by creating competitions with large monetary prizes for the winners. By incentivizing intense research and development, new teams of smart and creative people are formed that might not otherwise exist. XPRIZE is probably the most famous example of this type of incentivized competition. The XPRIZE Foundation runs competitions related to challenges like adult literacy, safer communities, space exploration, global education, artificial intelligence, access to fresh water, ocean exploration, and dealing with carbon emissions. Competitions of this nature may multiply at a faster rate, which will require professionals who can produce and manage them.
32. Synthetic Biology Engineer
Did you know that scientists in this field are already creating lab-grown meat that doesn't require any farm animals to be raised or killed? That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the staggering possibilities offered by synthetic biology. With their knowledge of molecular biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering, people in this occupation may eventually create all kinds of artificial organisms or redesign existing natural ones to deliver medical and industrial breakthroughs that nobody has imagined yet.
33. Project-Based Human Resources Director
With more companies moving toward project-based employment models, it's likely that specialized human resources professionals will increasingly be needed for choosing and coordinating the best freelance workers for individual projects. In fact, organizations may hire project directors the same way movie studios hire film directors. A project director would be responsible for selecting his or her own team for a particular assignment from among all available freelance talent. Along with skills in human resources, this type of professional may also need a deep understanding of project management.
34. Weather Control Engineer
Climate change is already being linked to many droughts, floods, and various severe and unexpected weather events. But as climate science advances, it may become possible to safely and effectively manipulate the weather in predictable ways. Geoengineering is already happening at smaller scales. It might not be able to reverse all the effects of global warming, but it could give us the tools to ensure that certain regions aren't completely devastated by it. If the science advances that far, then some of the top jobs for the future will probably be related to controlling the weather.
Jobs That Don't Exist Quite Yet (But Probably Will)
Predicting future jobs is an exercise that involves looking at future industries and speculating on ways in which they will be different than the workforce today. Business management, engineering, accounting, marketing, and sales are all necessary skills for the future, but the work involved will also be different.
At the same time there will be many less-obvious positions that will need to be created. This is about those less-obvious positions.
(The world is changing quickly. Every day, new possibilities arise. So it's a good idea to know what the more futuristic job options might be. Some of the most promising careers for the future may include occupations like the following examples.)
The following is not an exhaustive list, nor do these job titles all have good explanations. Rather, this column is intended to be a thought-generator, an idea-sparker, to help individuals draw their own conclusions.
35. Organizational Disrupter
As established companies and other organizations expand, they often lose some of their ability to innovate. That makes them vulnerable to competition from more nimble start-ups that frequently aren't so set in their ways. Since many futurists foresee a coming trend toward smaller, more adaptable organizations, a lot of large companies and non-profits may want to figure out how to make themselves more like their smaller competitors. The role of a disrupter would be to introduce a few seemingly chaotic changes in an organization that promote more creativity, risk-taking, collaboration, and innovation.
36. Personal Education Guide
Going to school is still an effective way to learn and get recognized credentials. But as we move farther into the future, it's possible that education will become much more personalized and even more convenient than today's online programs. Personal education guides may act as coaches and counselors in helping people choose on-demand courses or designing customized training plans that utilize freelance instructors. And they may provide confirmation that their clients have successfully completed those courses and earned alternative credentials that more and more employers will recognize as being valid.
37. Custom Body Parts Manufacturer
At some point, waiting lists for organ transplants will probably become a thing of the past.Soon, doctors may be able to order up custom organs that are grown or 3D-printed using their patients' own cells. After all, scientists have already had some success at creating hearts, kidneys, and livers in their labs. They've even grown skin, ears, and other external body parts.
38. Brain Implant Specialist
The human brain is incredibly complex, but mankind's understanding of how it works is growing faster than most of us probably realize. As we combine the rapid advances in neuroscience with the amazing advances in computer technology, we'll end up with some truly amazing possibilities. Special computer chips may one day be implanted into people's brains for benefits such as virtual telepathy, memory enhancements, disease management, mood regulation, paralysis treatments, and much more.
39. Personal Microbiome Manager
This job probably isn't an option quite yet, but it could become a good one in the decades ahead. As scientists learn more about the many kinds of bacteria that live inside us and on our skin, they're discovering that these microorganisms may play essential roles in our health and well-being. In fact, having the right balance of bacteria might be crucial for things like preventing obesity, heart disease, chronic fatigue, and mental health problems. Specialists who know how to manage our personal microbiota may become just as important as today's physicians.
40. Pharmaceutical Artisan
The pharmacy careers of today will probably be around for a long time. But as 3D printing grows more widespread, it may become possible to quickly produce customized medications for people on an on-demand basis (rather than giving out mass-produced meds). Artisanal drugs could be developed based on a person's unique genetics, habits, and medical history. Some pharmaceutical artisans may even create targeted treatments based on a person's own stem cells.
41. Urban Security Coordinator
In a fast-changing world with more densely populated cities, keeping people safe from one another may become increasingly challenging. Criminal justice and law enforcement professionals will have to adapt and find ways to take advantage of new technologies without infringing on people's rights. That could lead to new positions for security pros with specialized skills in coordinating human workers and robots, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies within urban environments.
42. End-of-Life Manager or Memorializer
With our culture and economy increasingly focused on the personal brands of individuals, it's possible that many people, well in advance of their deaths, will want to plan elaborate memorial services and celebrations that are more extravagant than the kind offered by most funeral directors today. In addition, laws may change to give more people the choice to end their lives through voluntary euthanasia, something that itself could become a specially planned event on the scale of a wedding. That might sound macabre or morally questionable right now, but it could become a big part of the event planning industry in the future. If so, professionals will be needed who can help coordinate major end-of-life celebrations and craft engaging tributes about dying individuals' lives and legacies.
43. Hyper-Intelligent Transportation Engineer
We're quickly moving toward a future in which humans will no longer be the operators of transport vehicles. Self-driving cars are probably only the beginning. With more intelligent machines and several advanced technologies already in place or being developed, a future of fully automated transportation networks may become reality. A new paradigm of smart roads, vacuum-tube tunnels, maglev trains, and many other advanced transportation systems could replace our current one.
44. Landfill Worm Operator
Earth doesn't have an endless supply of natural resources. The rapid industrialization of the world is beginning to cause shortages of some mined resources. Over the past several decades, a lot of the resources that have been extracted from the earth have ultimately been buried again—in landfills. Many of the products we've thrown away contain valuable elements that industries need in order to manufacture new products and keep functioning. So solutions will need to be developed to extract those elements from the world's many landfills. Some futurists envision a future in which robotic earthworms, partially operated by humans, mine landfills and extract the valuable resources while filling in the resulting voids with good-quality soil.
45. Extinct Species Revivalist
Human actions continue to cause the extinction of various plants, animals, and microorganisms. In many cases, we don't realize how important those species are to the health of the world's ecosystems until they're gone. As zoologists and other scientists learn more about the widespread ecological impacts of extinctions, it's becoming clear that many species play critical roles in supporting the environments that humans rely on. So conserving threatened species is often essential. But science may also advance to the point that we can actually bring back some of the species that have already gone extinct and reintegrate them into their natural environments.
Personal Rapid Transit Systems (PRTs)
PRTs like Hyperloop, Skytran, Jpods, and ET3 offer a new dimension in transportation. They operate above the fray, independent of the frenetic energy of today’s highways, airports, train, and bus depots. Details here.
47. Station Designers & Architects
48. Circulation Engineers
49. Traffic Flow AnalyzersCommand Center Operators
50. Traffic Transitionists
51. Impact Minimizers
52. Demand Optimizers
53. Secondary Opportunity Developers
54. Feedback Loopers
55. Construction Teams
PRTs have the potential to become the largest infrastructure project the earth has ever seen, costing literally trillions of dollars and employing hundreds of millions of people. Details here.
Atmospheric Water Harvesters
One of today’s most significant breakthroughs is happening in the area of atmospheric water harvesters, being developed by a new breed of water innovators intent on solving one of earth’s most vexing problems.
56. Site Collection Lease Managers
57. System Architects
58. Water Supply
59. Purification Monitors
60. Impact Assessors
The God Globe
The “God Globe” is intended to be a master command center for planet earth, where we will, for the first time ever, begin to control nature’s greatest forces. Details here.
61. Global System Architect
62. Data Integration Manager
63. Inflectionists – Those who can pinpoint the optimal intersection of time, place, and information for change to occur
64. Fear Containment Managers
65. Privacy Theorists, Philosophers, and Ethicists
The Sharing Economy
The sharing economy is creating some amazing business models around the use of “other people’s stuff.”
66. Sharability Auditors – People who analyze homes and businesses for sharable assets.
67. Corporate Sharing Managers
68. Opportunity Spotters
69. Impact Assessors
70. Involvement Specialists
The Quantified Self
The “quantified self” is all about building a measurable information sphere around each of us. As we get better acquainted with the Delphic maxim “know thyself,” we will become far more aware of our deficiencies and the pieces needed to shore up our shortfalls. Details here.
71. Quantified Self Assessment Auditors
72. Data
73. Deficiency Analyzers
74. Skill Quantifiers
75. Bio-Waste Optimizers
76. Guardians of Privacy
Future Sports
Sports have become the ultimate form of storytelling. Each contest is a test of the human spirit, with good guys and bad guys pairing off, amidst great drama, as contestants test their limits overcoming adversity, to achieve an unknown outcome. And all of this is happening in real time. Details here
77. Simulation Specialists
78. Genetic Modification Designers and Engineers
79. Body Modification Ethicists
80. Athlete Qualification Analyzers
81. Cradle to Grave Lifecycle Managers
82. Super Baby Designers
83. Super Baby Psychologists
84. Super Baby Advocates
Commercial Drone Industry
The U.S. Congress has mandated the FAA develop a plan to incorporate drones into national airspace by Sept. 30, 2015. Many in this new industry are chomping at the bit to get started.
85. Drone Classification Gurus – Different laws will apply to different classifications of drone vehicles.
86. Drone Standards Specialists
87. Drone Docking Designers and Engineers
88. Operator Certification Specialists
89. Environmental Minimizers – Sound diminution engineers, visual aesthetic reductionists, etc.
90. Drone Traffic Optimizers
91. Automation Engineers
92. Backlash Minimizers – Ever-new technology has its detractors, this perhaps more than most.
Trillion-Sensor Future
Industry experts are now projecting that we will reach 1 trillion sensors in the world by 2024, and 100 trillion by 2036.
93. Sensor Inventors, Designers, and Engineers
94. Data Stream Organizers
95. Failure Point Assessors
96. Data Transmission Optimizers
97. System Anthropologists
98. Data Actuaries
99. Last Milers – People who specialize in bridging the gap between where the data fields end and the user communities begin.
3D Printing
3D printing was recently named by Goldman Sachs as one of eight technologies destined to creatively destroy how we do business. As an industry making inroads in thousands of different businesses simultaneously, former Wired Magazine editor Chris Anderson is famously quoted as saying, “3D printing will be bigger than the Internet.”
100. Automation Auditors – Assessing what parts, processes, and systems can be automated.
101. Material Experts
102. Design Engineers
103. Cost Estimators
104. 3Dimensionalists – Those with an innate ability to think three dimensionally.
105. 3D Printer “Ink” Developer
106. 3D Food Printer Chef
107. 3D Printed Clothing Fashion Designers, Material Specialists, and Stylists
108. Organ Agents – 3D printed organs are now being created and are in hot demand.
109. Manufacturing Process Consultants
110. Maintenance Guys
Internet of Things
Seventy-five billion is the number of devices that Morgan Stanley has calculated will be connected to the Internet of Things by 2020. That’s 9.4 devices for every one of the 8 billion people that will be on earth in only seven years. IBM even created a starter kit to help people get started.
111. Locationists – People who specialize in adding the relevance of “place” to our global online communities.
112. Lifestyle Auditors
113. Efficiency Consultants
114. Ownership Network Setup Specialists – Everything people own over a certain value can be tagged, tracked, and monitored.
115. Augmented Reality Architects – Much like the paint we put on houses and the flavorings we add to food, the future will seem boring if our reality hasn’t been augmented in some way.
116. Avatar Relationship Managers – As the foibles of humanity enter the realm of autonomous, freethinking avatars, people will find it necessary to both manage and limit the often-dangerous relationships avatars get themselves into.
Big Data
Social media, blogs, web browsing, and company’s security systems are all generating enormous quantities of data, and it all needs to be stored, managed, analyzed, and protected.
118. Data Interface Mavens
119. Opportunity Spotters
120. Waste Data Managers
To insure data integrity in today’s fast evolving information storage industry, multiple redundancies have been built into the system. Achieving more streamline data storage in the future will require de-duplication specialists who can rid our data centers of needless copies and frivolous clutter.
121. Computer Personality Designers – Talking back and forth to a computer that has a machine-like voice is boring. But being able to download specific “personality packages” will add an entirely new level of engagement for basement-dwellers everywhere.
122. Data Hostage Specialists – Holding people as hostages is very messy. But holding data hostage is a less-risky crime that can be done remotely, and has the potential for far greater rewards.
123. Smart Contact App Developers – Smart contact lenses superimpose information on the wearer’s field of view.
Crypto Currencies & Alternative Financial Systems
In 2008 the entire world was beginning to panic as our global financial systems teetered ever so close to total meltdown. Major banks were either failing or near failure, and the entire house of cards seemed to be one 10-of-Clubs away from becoming a meaningless flat stack in the middle of the table. Out of this growing distrust of banks, Wall Street, and our entire monetary system, the age of crypto currencies was born.
124. Crypto Currency Bankers, Regulators, and Lawyers
125. Currency Adoption Specialists
126. Anonymity Advocates
127. Theft Recovery Specialists
128. Crypto Currency Theorists, Philosophers, and Evangelists
129. Currency Strategists
130. Monetary Exchange Interface Experts
131. Standards Developers
132. Lending Tacticians
133. Seed Capitalists – In the startup business world there is a huge gulf between initial concept and fundable prototypes. This dearth of funding options will require an entirely new profession.
134. Privacy Managers – If you think you have lost most of your privacy already, we’ve only scratched the surface. We are all terminally human, and as such, we do not always make good decisions. Striking the perfect privacy-transparency balance will require far more than amateur insights. It will require privacy professionals.
135. Secondary Opportunity Maximizers
Micro Grid Conversion
Over the coming years, the national electric grid will be broken into a series of micro grids. Details here.
136. Micro Grid Strategists
137. Mass Energy Storage Developers – We are still terrible at storing energy from one day to the next. Once mass energy storage systems are developed, micro grids become infinitely more viable.
138. System Power Conversion Specialists
140. Efficiency Optimizers
141. Benefits Translators
142. Secondary Opportunity Expansionists
143. Backlash Minimizers
Contour Crafted Houses
Many people think of contour crafting as 3D printing for houses, but Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis from the University of Southern California sees it as much more. In addition to it’s ability to print an entire house in less than a day, it can be used to eliminate slums, help rebuild areas after a natural disasters, and even build large buildings and luxury homes with custom architectural features that can be changed with only a few clicks of a mouse. Details here.
144. Construction Material Designers
145. Structural Engineers
146. Site Planners
147. Setup Teams
148. Tear-Down Teams
149. Cleanup Teams
Driverless Everything
Driverless technology will initially require a driver, but it will quickly creep into everyday use much as airbags did. First as an expensive option for luxury cars, but eventually it will become a safety feature stipulated by the government. Over the next 10 years we will see the first wave of autonomous vehicles hit the roads, with some of the first inroads made by vehicles that deliver packages, groceries, and fast-mail envelopes.
150. Delivery Dispatchers
151. Traffic Monitoring System Planners, Designers, and Operators
152. Automated Traffic Architects and Engineers
153. Driverless “Ride Experience” Designers
154. Driverless Operating System Engineers
155. 1Emergency Crews for when things go wrong.
Bio-Factories
Based on using living systems, “bio-factories” represent a new process for creating substances that are either too tricky or too expensive to grow in nature or to make with petrochemicals. The rush to develop bio-factories as a means for production not only promises to revolutionize the chemical industry but also transform the economy. Hundreds of products are already in the pipeline.
156. Nano-Medics – The medical problems most people have can be traced to a single cell or a small group of them. Health professionals capable of working on the nano-level, both in designing diagnostics systems, remedies, and monitoring solutions will be in high demand.
157. Bio-Factory Doctors, Strategists, and Developers
158. DNA Scientists
159. Gene Sequencers
160. Treatment Monitors
Micro-Colleges
The systems used to create colleges centuries ago seems justifiably primitive by today’s standards. Learning formulas for nearly every degree are based on hours, one of the least important considerations when it comes to assessing talent. Colleges today cost far too much, and they take far too long. For this reason, a new wave of full-immersion skill training centers, or Micro Colleges, has begun to emerge. Details here.
161. School Designers
162. Policy Advisors
163. Career Advisors
164. Goal Counselors
165. Student Relationship Managers
166. Student Mentors, Coaches, and Counselors
Senior Living
With almost 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the number of seniors who need specialized housing will only increase the need for more options and better solutions.
167. Legacists – Managing people’s legacy
168. Lifestyle Housing Designers
169. Aging Specialists
170. Situational Therapists
171. Life-Stage Attendants
172. Memorial Designers
173. Octogenarian Service Providers – As the population continues the age we will have record numbers of people living into their 80s, 90s, and 100s. This mushrooming group of active oldsters will provide a demand for goods and services currently not being addressed in today’s marketplace.
Future Agriculture
When people think of farming, they typically conjure up images of a tractor cresting a hill billowing large plumes of exhaust into the air. This image will become a distant memory as automated machines, drones, and swarmbots enter the pictures. As with all industries, there are many micro-forces driving the changes in future agriculture. But there are three dominant trend lines – precision, relevance, and control – that will be driving this industry.
174. Plant-Jackers and Tree-Jackers – Plant and tree alteration specialists, who manipulate growth patterns, create grow-to-fit wood products, color-changing leaves, personalized fruit, etc
175. Molecular Gastronomists
176. Bio-Meat Factory Engineers
177. Supply Chain Optimizers
178. Urban Agriculturalists – Why ship food all the way around the world when it can be grown next door.
179. Bio-Hacking Inspectors and Security
180. Swarmbot and Drone Operators and Managers
181. Plant Educators – An intelligent plant will be capable of re-engineering itself to meet the demands of tomorrow’s marketplace. Plant educators will not work with lesson plans or PowerPoint presentations, but the learning process will be even more effective.
182. Plant Psychologists & Plant Therapists – As we mess with the “minds” of the plants, there will invariably be any number of unplanned reactions.
The Dismantlers
Over the coming years will see a number of industries dismantled, and this will require a skilled workforce of talented people who can perform this task in the least disruptive way. It’s easy to spot these industries by their aging systems, facilities, and infrastructure. In many cases they have become unnecessary and unsustainable in the future, and will be scaled back to a fraction of their current size.
183. Prison System Dismantlers –Details here.
184. Hospital and Healthcare Dismantlers – Details here.
185. Income Tax System Dismantlers – Details here.
186. Government Agency Dismantlers – Details here.
187. Education System Dismantlers – Details here.
188. College and University Dismantlers – Details here.
189. Airport Security Systems Dismantlers
190. Airport Customs Dismantler
Extreme Innovation
Outside of the multiple categories listed above are a number of unusual jobs, many still decades away. Here are just a few to consider.
1. Extinction Revivalists – People who revive extinct animals.
2. Robotic Earthworm Drivers – The most valuable land on the planet will soon be the landfills because that is where we have buried our most valuable natural resources. In the future, robotic earthworms will be used to silently mine the landfills and replace whatever is extracted with high-grade soil.
3. Avatar Designers – Next generation avatars will become indistinguishable from humans on a two-dimensional screen. However, avatars will only live in the computer world for a short time longer. It is only a matter of time before they emerge from the computer and appear as visual beings, walking around among us. Once an avatar goes through the radical metamorphosis from an image that we see on a screen to a three dimensional being that joins us for dinner, carries on conversations with our friends, and serves as a stand-in for us at meetings, we will see work start on an even more realistic avatar, one that we can touch.
4. Gravity Pullers – The first wave of people to unlock the code for influencing gravity.
5. Time Hackers – If we think cyber terrorists are a pain, it will seem like nothing compared to devious jerry-riggers who start manipulating the time fabric of our lives.
6. Clone Ranchers – Raising “blank” humans will be similar in many respects to cattle ranching. But once a clone is selected, and the personality download is complete, the former clone will instantly be elevated to “human status.”
7. Body Part & Limb Makers – The Organ Agents listed above will quickly find themselves in a different line of work as soon as we figure out how to efficiently grow and mass produce our own organs from scratch.
8. Global System Architects – Our systems are transitioning from national systems into global systems. Architects of these new global systems will play a crucial role in future global politics.
9. Memory Augmentation Therapists – Entertainment is all about the great memories it creates. Creating a better grade of memories can dramatically change who we are and pave the way for an entirely new class of humans.
10. Time Brokers – Time Bank Traders – Where do you go when you run out of time? Naturally, to the time-bank, and take out a time-loan.
11. Space-Based Power System Designers – At some point, the burning of earth’s natural resources for power will become a thing of the past. Space-based systems will capture and transmit power far more efficiently than anything currently in existence.
12. Brain Quants – Where the stock market manipulators of the past meet the brain manipulators of the future to usurp control of marketing and messaging on Madison Avenue.
13. Nano-Weapons Specialists – Many of the weapons of the future will be too small to be seen by the human eye.
14. Lip Designers – If you could have any lips in the world, what would they look like?
15. Earthquake Forecasters – Everything we know about the inside of the earth has been developed through indirect evidence. We have no maps of the center of the earth. We have no accurate diagrams, no understanding of motion, fluidity, or changes happening with any degree of accuracy. While scientists are developing skills to work with nanoscale precision on the earth’s surface, the best we can muster below the surface is blindfolded guesswork done with 100-mile precision.
16. “Heavy Air” Engineers – Compressed air is useful in a wide variety of ways. However, we have yet to figure out how to compress streams of air as they pass through our existing atmosphere. Once we do, it will create untold opportunity for non-surface based housing and transportation systems, weather control, and other kinds of experimentation.
17. Amnesia Surgeons – Doctors who are skilled in removing bad memories or destructive behavior.
18. Geoengineers – Weather Control Specialists – We are moving past the age of meteorology and climatology to one where the true power-brokers will wield the forces of nature.
Style’s of Skill & Personality Types Necessary for Future Careers
1. Transitionists – Those who can help make a transition.
2. Expansionists – A talent for adapting along with a growing environment.
3. Maximizers – An ability to maximize processes, situations, and opportunities.
4. Optimizers – The skill and persistence to tweak variables until it produces better results.
5. Inflectionists – Finding critical inflection points in a system.
6. Dismantlers – Every industry will eventually end, and this requires talented people who know how to scale things back in an orderly fashion.
7. Feedback Loopers – Those who can devise the best possible feedback loops.
8. Backlashers – Ever-new technology will have its detractors, and each backlash will require a response.
9. Last Milers – Technologies commonly reach a point of diminishing returns as they attempt to extend their full capacity to the end user. Last milers are people with the ability to mastermind these solutions.
10. Contexualists – In between the application and the big picture lays the operational context for every new technology.
11. Ethicists – There will be an ever-growing demand for people who can ask the tough questions and set standards to apply moral decency to some increasingly complex situations.
12. Philosophers – With companies in a constant battle over “my-brain-is-bigger-that-your-brain,” it becomes the overarching philosophy that wins the day.
13. Theorists – Every new product, service, and industry begins with a theory.
14. Legacists – Those who are passionate and skilled with leaving a legacy.
1. Solar Energy Technician
Like wind energy, solar power will continue to be a major part of humanity's transition toward a clean-energy future. The cost of solar energy keeps dropping year after year, so it's becoming much more affordable for businesses and homeowners. In cities all around the world, solar energy technicians are enjoying stable employment in a growing industry that makes a positive difference.
2. Wind Energy Technician
With climate change threatening to severely damage the world as we know it, it will become more important to move to clean energy sources. Reducing carbon and methane emissions means transitioning away from fossil fuel sources like oil, coal, and natural gas. That means wind energy will likely be a big part of the future. It's already an industry that's grown a lot. And it will likely grow a lot more, meaning that skilled technicians will be needed to help with the installation, maintenance, and repair of giant wind turbines. About 13,000 job openings could be generated for wind energy technicians over the decade that ends in 2028.
3. Nurse Practitioner
Because of an aging and longer-living population, the health care system may have trouble keeping up with the growing influx of patients. Many regions could experience severe shortages of doctors. They'll need more non-physician health professionals with the ability to diagnose and treat patients with various acute and chronic conditions. Registered nurses who get the right kind And between 2018 and 2028, they could benefit from about 169,000 job openings.
4. Software Developer
Computers, robots, and mobile devices are useless without the well-engineered software that gives life to the sophisticated hardware it runs on. As the Internet grows and machines get smarter and more connected to us and to each other, the need for talented software developers will expand. Mobile app development, especially, is considered one of the best careers for 2025 and beyond. In fact, almost 1.35 million total job openings are projected to become available in the software development field between 2018 and 2028.
5. Physical Therapist
With more seniors in our communities, the need for physical therapy professionals will increase. Many seniors end up requiring some form of physical rehabilitation, pain management, mobility assistance, or therapeutic treatment as they age. From 2018 to 2028, about 169,000 jobs may become available for physical therapists. An additional 165,000 jobs could open up for physical therapist assistants.
6. Registered Nurse (RN)
In total, more than 2.1 million jobs are expected to become available for RNs between 2018 and 2028. That number shouldn't be surprising given how quickly the senior population is growing in most regions. In all likelihood, RNs will continue to be in high demand for decades to come, even if their roles change a little because of technological advances and medical breakthroughs.
7. Health Services Manager
The health care sector may undergo more changes over the coming decades than most other industries. Every health and medical organization will need highly knowledgeable leaders and managers to help them adapt to legal, regulatory, and technological changes while still improving the quality and efficiency of the services they deliver. And about 422,000 job openings may become available in this field over the decade that ends in 2028.
8. Data Analyst
Thanks to computing advances and a cultural shift toward more tracking and measuring, the amount of data that gets collected every year grows by an astonishing amount. Organizations of every type now have the ability to gather so much detailed information that it's becoming more and more difficult for a lot of them to figure out what it all means. They need professionals who can not only collect the data they need, but also spot patterns, identify past and current trends, and forecast future probabilities.
9. Digital Content Specialist
One of the major cultural revolutions that keeps getting more entrenched is the move toward more dynamic, digital, interactive, and on-demand media. Because of digital devices that keep us constantly connected to almost any kind of information or entertainment we want to consume, the need for fresh content that breaks through the noise is never-ending. Organizations in every industry are discovering that generating new digital content is becoming a major key to sustaining their effectiveness. That's why digital content specialists—with all kinds of different job titles and abilities—are increasingly in high demand, especially with the growing popularity of remote work and freelance gigs. To prepare for this type of position, it's smart to get training in areas like Internet marketing, writing, and multimedia and digital arts.
10. Information Security Analyst
As our modern way of life gets more intertwined with computers and dependent on information technology (IT), we all become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. So far, we've been lucky that criminal hackers haven't shut down critical infrastructure on a very large scale or for an extended period of time. But that day is probably coming unless we have enough computer security specialists to help the government and essential organizations protect their networks and IT systems. Cybersecurity is a world-wide issue, and the bad guys keep getting more sophisticated in their attacks. From 2018 to 2028, about 128,000 jobs are expected to open up for information security analysts.
11. Computer Systems Analyst
The reasons for getting an education in computer science will probably continue to multiply as information technology grows more complex and intertwined with everything in our lives. That growing complexity is why more and more organizations will likely need systems analysts going forward. Companies will need help choosing and implementing the best hardware and software, including (potentially) robots and artificially intelligent machines. From 2018 to 2028, computer systems analysts could benefit from 534,000 job openings.
12. Biomedical Engineer
Professionals in this field are already starting to revolutionize the health care industry. In fact, biomedical engineering is probably one of the best careers to get into if you want your work to have a positive impact in the years ahead. After all, biomedical engineers are involved in all kinds of cutting-edge research and development. For example, many of them get to design things like sophisticated medical devices, artificial organs, bionic body parts, and biological implants. About 15,000 jobs are expected to become available in this field over the decade from 2018 to 2028.
13. Mechanical Engineering Specialist
Do you want to help develop some of the most exciting emerging technologies? Increasingly, mechanical engineers and mechanical engineering technicians are involved in the design and testing of things like advanced robots, automation equipment, 3D-printing machines, and clean energy devices. It's projected that, between 2018 and 2028, about 229,000 jobs could open up for engineers in this field and roughly 43,000 jobs could open up for technicians.
14. Electronics Engineering Specialist
Like mechanical engineering pros, a lot of people in this field get to help design, test, and evaluate leading-edge technologies. As electronic circuitry and other components get smaller, more complex, and more powerful, it's up to these professionals to figure out how to take advantage of the latest technological advances. They may help develop things like better computers, automated machinery, handheld medical devices, and navigation and communications equipment. Going forward, some of them may even get to work on things like self-driving cars. From 2018 to 2028, job openings are expected to total 52,000 for computer hardware engineers, 90,000 for other electronics engineers, and 127,000 for electronics engineering technicians.
15. Digital Rehab Counselor
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the incredible amount of digital information you consume in a day? Many people do. As more and more of our lives revolve around social media and other online activities, there's a growing awareness that a lot of us are actually addicted to the technology we use. One of the top jobs of the future may involve helping people "detox" from their over-consumption of digital inputs. People with counseling training will likely be the best-equipped to pursue this type of job.
16. Blockchain Developer
You've probably heard of the digital cryptocurrency called Bitcoin. But how much do you know about the underlying technology that makes it possible? Blockchain technology works as a distributed cryptographic ledger that can make economic and other types of transactions decentralized, faster, and more private. It's all a bit hard to understand, but many experts believe that blockchain technology will eventually be just as world changing as the Internet. That's why professionals who understand how to develop practical services and products with blockchain technology will probably be in high demand well into the future.
17. Civil or Commercial Drone Pilot or Dispatcher
The government is figuring out the best way to regulate the use of drones. After all, people continue to dream up new ways to take advantage of their remote flight capabilities. Instead of drones mostly being used for military or recreational purposes, they are increasingly used for all kinds of civil and commercial applications. For example, companies like Amazon envision drones delivering packages. But they could also be used for things like removing waste from city streets, monitoring air pollution levels, and performing routine tasks in high places that are dangerous or hard to reach. Some companies and public agencies are beginning to put together teams of drone pilots and dispatchers to manage their fleets of small remote-controlled aircraft.
18. Smart-Building Technician
With each passing year, more homes, offices, and factories are taking advantage of automation technology to control various building systems such as lighting, heating, air conditioning, and security. Everyday appliances like refrigerators are also becoming part of the growing Internet of Things. In the future, smart buildings may dominate entire cities as people embrace the freedom and convenience of automated control and hyper-connected systems. But there will still be a need for qualified people to install, maintain, and repair those systems. So tradespeople such as HVAC technicians are starting to become smart-building technicians.
19. 3D-Printing Technician
Many futurists believe that we've only just begun to scratch the surface of what 3D-printing technology (aka additive manufacturing) will ultimately be capable of achieving. Hobbyists, industrial designers, biomedical engineers, and other people are already experimenting with on-demand manufacturing of things like tools, food, clothing, everyday household objects, medical implants, and aviation, automotive, and electronics components. As this technology advances, 3D-printing machines may become just as commonplace as refrigerators and microwaves. Eventually, every home and business could have one. And small, localized 3D-printing manufacturers in every town may ultimately replace large remote factories. So, technicians who specialize in maintaining 3D-printing equipment will likely be in growing demand.
20. Augmented Reality Developer
Is the real world too boring? Does it need some visual enhancements that provide extra information or entertainment value? Some people think so. That's why they're developing ways to superimpose digital images and information onto a person's normal perception of the world using special glasses, bionic contact lenses, or other technologies. Augmented reality could eventually have a major impact on everyone's personal and professional lives since it will probably touch every industry, event, and public space. So augmented reality developers are needed to intelligently design and plan the safe and effective use of this technology.
21. Personal Privacy Advisor
As technology evolves and touches more and more aspects of our lives, it's getting harder and harder to maintain our privacy. It's a challenge that will only get more complex as facial recognition and augmented reality technologies become widely adopted. Soon, you may not be able to go out into public without everyone else automatically learning your identity, age, marital status, place of employment, and criminal record (if you have one). Professionals who specialize in helping people protect their privacy—without losing out on some of the main benefits of social media or other technologies—will likely be in demand.
22. Personal Brand Advisor
Even among large, established organizations, hiring freelance professionals for short-term projects is becoming a pretty big trend that may expand well into the future. In fact, many futurists foresee a time when most jobs will be done on a temporary contract basis. If that holds true, workers will need to develop great personal brands and put a lot of effort into constant self-promotion. Personal brand advisors will help their clients establish and maintain public personas and professional reputations that make them stand apart from the competition.
23. Robotics Service Technician
In the decades to come, almost every home could have sophisticated robots that assist with routine housework such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, and lawn maintenance. But those robots probably won't always work as they should. So skilled technicians may be needed to repair or reprogram the robots that get hacked, go haywire, or cease to function. In fact, robot technicians may eventually become just as commonplace as plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, and other types of skilled tradespeople.
24. Remote Health Care Engineer
As robotics and communications technologies get more advanced, it's becoming possible for doctors and other health care specialists to consult with patients without being physically present. Technology is even being developed and perfected to allow surgeons to perform remote operations with the assistance of robots. In the future, many more remote health care engineers will develop and coordinate the use of advanced technology that allows patients to get diagnosed and treated by almost any medical specialist in the world, regardless of where he or she is physically located.
25. Urban Agriculture Specialist
According to the National Intelligence Council, the urban population on Earth grows by the equivalent of about seven Chicago-sized cities each year. In fact, the World Economic Forum predicts that, from 2010 to 2050, the global population of city dwellers will double, reaching about 5.2 billion people. In addition, many of today's industrial farming practices are damaging the natural environment. So, in order for cities to be sustainable, they'll need to grow their own food using sophisticated hydroponics and vertical farming methods. Demand for professional urban farmers will likely grow as more cities and urban dwellers realize that their survival depends on growing food locally.
26. Nanotech Engineer
By manipulating matter at the level of atoms or molecules, it has become possible to imagine and develop a wide range of new innovations. For example, many people in this field envision a future in which self-replicating nanostructures are used in construction and nano-robots are put into the human body to assist the immune system and cure diseases. Nanoscale technologies are already being used to create advanced materials, and they're being incorporated into some electronics and consumer products (like clothing). As this technology matures, nanotech engineers will need to ensure that their creations don't pose a risk to the environment or human health.
27. Biomech Technician
Bionic limbs continue to get more sophisticated. It's possible that, one day, even people without any disabilities will want biomechanical add-ons in order to enjoy super-human capabilities. But the technology will probably be so complex that only people with specialized skill sets will be able to repair it, upgrade it, or tune it up.
28. Genetic Engineer
The idea of custom-designed and made-to-order babies may make a lot of us feel squeamish right now, but people's attitudes could change as genetic engineering matures and more companies begin to commercialize the resulting technology. Besides, advances in this field may also lead to cures for some of our most challenging diseases as well as treatments that slow or even stop the aging process. It will be up to governments to decide how to regulate an industry that will benefit from a lot of pent-up demand.
29. Tech Ethicist
Humanity still hasn't fully learned that we shouldn't do something just because we can. Ethicists have the job of trying to help us avoid learning that lesson the hard way. They help us examine hard-to-answer questions in relation to new technologies and their potential consequences. For example, should we allow the creation of "designer babies?" Who has parental rights when a human is conceived, grown, and born in a laboratory, outside of a mother's womb? Should we grant artificially intelligent robots the same rights we have? How much information are we entitled to know about other people? The questions are almost limitless given how quickly technology is changing our world.
30. Virtual Reality Designer
Most people like to travel and explore places they've never been. However, you don't necessarily have to physically travel anywhere in order to see and experience new places. Whole virtual worlds are being created, and the supporting technology will increasingly allow you to interact with it using all of your senses. A lot of VR users might even form deep relationships with other people's virtual avatars while having adventures that they would never experience in the real world. As this technology matures, what's real and what's fantasy will start to blur together. Talented VR designers may become highly sought-after as VR developers race to fill a growing demand for more sophisticated, realistic, and imaginative virtual experiences.
31. Problem-Solving Competition Director
Some people believe that solutions to humanity's biggest problems can be discovered by creating competitions with large monetary prizes for the winners. By incentivizing intense research and development, new teams of smart and creative people are formed that might not otherwise exist. XPRIZE is probably the most famous example of this type of incentivized competition. The XPRIZE Foundation runs competitions related to challenges like adult literacy, safer communities, space exploration, global education, artificial intelligence, access to fresh water, ocean exploration, and dealing with carbon emissions. Competitions of this nature may multiply at a faster rate, which will require professionals who can produce and manage them.
32. Synthetic Biology Engineer
Did you know that scientists in this field are already creating lab-grown meat that doesn't require any farm animals to be raised or killed? That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the staggering possibilities offered by synthetic biology. With their knowledge of molecular biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering, people in this occupation may eventually create all kinds of artificial organisms or redesign existing natural ones to deliver medical and industrial breakthroughs that nobody has imagined yet.
33. Project-Based Human Resources Director
With more companies moving toward project-based employment models, it's likely that specialized human resources professionals will increasingly be needed for choosing and coordinating the best freelance workers for individual projects. In fact, organizations may hire project directors the same way movie studios hire film directors. A project director would be responsible for selecting his or her own team for a particular assignment from among all available freelance talent. Along with skills in human resources, this type of professional may also need a deep understanding of project management.
34. Weather Control Engineer
Climate change is already being linked to many droughts, floods, and various severe and unexpected weather events. But as climate science advances, it may become possible to safely and effectively manipulate the weather in predictable ways. Geoengineering is already happening at smaller scales. It might not be able to reverse all the effects of global warming, but it could give us the tools to ensure that certain regions aren't completely devastated by it. If the science advances that far, then some of the top jobs for the future will probably be related to controlling the weather.
Jobs That Don't Exist Quite Yet (But Probably Will)
Predicting future jobs is an exercise that involves looking at future industries and speculating on ways in which they will be different than the workforce today. Business management, engineering, accounting, marketing, and sales are all necessary skills for the future, but the work involved will also be different.
At the same time there will be many less-obvious positions that will need to be created. This is about those less-obvious positions.
(The world is changing quickly. Every day, new possibilities arise. So it's a good idea to know what the more futuristic job options might be. Some of the most promising careers for the future may include occupations like the following examples.)
The following is not an exhaustive list, nor do these job titles all have good explanations. Rather, this column is intended to be a thought-generator, an idea-sparker, to help individuals draw their own conclusions.
35. Organizational Disrupter
As established companies and other organizations expand, they often lose some of their ability to innovate. That makes them vulnerable to competition from more nimble start-ups that frequently aren't so set in their ways. Since many futurists foresee a coming trend toward smaller, more adaptable organizations, a lot of large companies and non-profits may want to figure out how to make themselves more like their smaller competitors. The role of a disrupter would be to introduce a few seemingly chaotic changes in an organization that promote more creativity, risk-taking, collaboration, and innovation.
36. Personal Education Guide
Going to school is still an effective way to learn and get recognized credentials. But as we move farther into the future, it's possible that education will become much more personalized and even more convenient than today's online programs. Personal education guides may act as coaches and counselors in helping people choose on-demand courses or designing customized training plans that utilize freelance instructors. And they may provide confirmation that their clients have successfully completed those courses and earned alternative credentials that more and more employers will recognize as being valid.
37. Custom Body Parts Manufacturer
At some point, waiting lists for organ transplants will probably become a thing of the past.Soon, doctors may be able to order up custom organs that are grown or 3D-printed using their patients' own cells. After all, scientists have already had some success at creating hearts, kidneys, and livers in their labs. They've even grown skin, ears, and other external body parts.
38. Brain Implant Specialist
The human brain is incredibly complex, but mankind's understanding of how it works is growing faster than most of us probably realize. As we combine the rapid advances in neuroscience with the amazing advances in computer technology, we'll end up with some truly amazing possibilities. Special computer chips may one day be implanted into people's brains for benefits such as virtual telepathy, memory enhancements, disease management, mood regulation, paralysis treatments, and much more.
39. Personal Microbiome Manager
This job probably isn't an option quite yet, but it could become a good one in the decades ahead. As scientists learn more about the many kinds of bacteria that live inside us and on our skin, they're discovering that these microorganisms may play essential roles in our health and well-being. In fact, having the right balance of bacteria might be crucial for things like preventing obesity, heart disease, chronic fatigue, and mental health problems. Specialists who know how to manage our personal microbiota may become just as important as today's physicians.
40. Pharmaceutical Artisan
The pharmacy careers of today will probably be around for a long time. But as 3D printing grows more widespread, it may become possible to quickly produce customized medications for people on an on-demand basis (rather than giving out mass-produced meds). Artisanal drugs could be developed based on a person's unique genetics, habits, and medical history. Some pharmaceutical artisans may even create targeted treatments based on a person's own stem cells.
41. Urban Security Coordinator
In a fast-changing world with more densely populated cities, keeping people safe from one another may become increasingly challenging. Criminal justice and law enforcement professionals will have to adapt and find ways to take advantage of new technologies without infringing on people's rights. That could lead to new positions for security pros with specialized skills in coordinating human workers and robots, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies within urban environments.
42. End-of-Life Manager or Memorializer
With our culture and economy increasingly focused on the personal brands of individuals, it's possible that many people, well in advance of their deaths, will want to plan elaborate memorial services and celebrations that are more extravagant than the kind offered by most funeral directors today. In addition, laws may change to give more people the choice to end their lives through voluntary euthanasia, something that itself could become a specially planned event on the scale of a wedding. That might sound macabre or morally questionable right now, but it could become a big part of the event planning industry in the future. If so, professionals will be needed who can help coordinate major end-of-life celebrations and craft engaging tributes about dying individuals' lives and legacies.
43. Hyper-Intelligent Transportation Engineer
We're quickly moving toward a future in which humans will no longer be the operators of transport vehicles. Self-driving cars are probably only the beginning. With more intelligent machines and several advanced technologies already in place or being developed, a future of fully automated transportation networks may become reality. A new paradigm of smart roads, vacuum-tube tunnels, maglev trains, and many other advanced transportation systems could replace our current one.
44. Landfill Worm Operator
Earth doesn't have an endless supply of natural resources. The rapid industrialization of the world is beginning to cause shortages of some mined resources. Over the past several decades, a lot of the resources that have been extracted from the earth have ultimately been buried again—in landfills. Many of the products we've thrown away contain valuable elements that industries need in order to manufacture new products and keep functioning. So solutions will need to be developed to extract those elements from the world's many landfills. Some futurists envision a future in which robotic earthworms, partially operated by humans, mine landfills and extract the valuable resources while filling in the resulting voids with good-quality soil.
45. Extinct Species Revivalist
Human actions continue to cause the extinction of various plants, animals, and microorganisms. In many cases, we don't realize how important those species are to the health of the world's ecosystems until they're gone. As zoologists and other scientists learn more about the widespread ecological impacts of extinctions, it's becoming clear that many species play critical roles in supporting the environments that humans rely on. So conserving threatened species is often essential. But science may also advance to the point that we can actually bring back some of the species that have already gone extinct and reintegrate them into their natural environments.
Personal Rapid Transit Systems (PRTs)
PRTs like Hyperloop, Skytran, Jpods, and ET3 offer a new dimension in transportation. They operate above the fray, independent of the frenetic energy of today’s highways, airports, train, and bus depots. Details here.
47. Station Designers & Architects
48. Circulation Engineers
49. Traffic Flow AnalyzersCommand Center Operators
50. Traffic Transitionists
51. Impact Minimizers
52. Demand Optimizers
53. Secondary Opportunity Developers
54. Feedback Loopers
55. Construction Teams
PRTs have the potential to become the largest infrastructure project the earth has ever seen, costing literally trillions of dollars and employing hundreds of millions of people. Details here.
Atmospheric Water Harvesters
One of today’s most significant breakthroughs is happening in the area of atmospheric water harvesters, being developed by a new breed of water innovators intent on solving one of earth’s most vexing problems.
56. Site Collection Lease Managers
57. System Architects
58. Water Supply
59. Purification Monitors
60. Impact Assessors
The God Globe
The “God Globe” is intended to be a master command center for planet earth, where we will, for the first time ever, begin to control nature’s greatest forces. Details here.
61. Global System Architect
62. Data Integration Manager
63. Inflectionists – Those who can pinpoint the optimal intersection of time, place, and information for change to occur
64. Fear Containment Managers
65. Privacy Theorists, Philosophers, and Ethicists
The Sharing Economy
The sharing economy is creating some amazing business models around the use of “other people’s stuff.”
66. Sharability Auditors – People who analyze homes and businesses for sharable assets.
67. Corporate Sharing Managers
68. Opportunity Spotters
69. Impact Assessors
70. Involvement Specialists
The Quantified Self
The “quantified self” is all about building a measurable information sphere around each of us. As we get better acquainted with the Delphic maxim “know thyself,” we will become far more aware of our deficiencies and the pieces needed to shore up our shortfalls. Details here.
71. Quantified Self Assessment Auditors
72. Data
73. Deficiency Analyzers
74. Skill Quantifiers
75. Bio-Waste Optimizers
76. Guardians of Privacy
Future Sports
Sports have become the ultimate form of storytelling. Each contest is a test of the human spirit, with good guys and bad guys pairing off, amidst great drama, as contestants test their limits overcoming adversity, to achieve an unknown outcome. And all of this is happening in real time. Details here
77. Simulation Specialists
78. Genetic Modification Designers and Engineers
79. Body Modification Ethicists
80. Athlete Qualification Analyzers
81. Cradle to Grave Lifecycle Managers
82. Super Baby Designers
83. Super Baby Psychologists
84. Super Baby Advocates
Commercial Drone Industry
The U.S. Congress has mandated the FAA develop a plan to incorporate drones into national airspace by Sept. 30, 2015. Many in this new industry are chomping at the bit to get started.
85. Drone Classification Gurus – Different laws will apply to different classifications of drone vehicles.
86. Drone Standards Specialists
87. Drone Docking Designers and Engineers
88. Operator Certification Specialists
89. Environmental Minimizers – Sound diminution engineers, visual aesthetic reductionists, etc.
90. Drone Traffic Optimizers
91. Automation Engineers
92. Backlash Minimizers – Ever-new technology has its detractors, this perhaps more than most.
Trillion-Sensor Future
Industry experts are now projecting that we will reach 1 trillion sensors in the world by 2024, and 100 trillion by 2036.
93. Sensor Inventors, Designers, and Engineers
94. Data Stream Organizers
95. Failure Point Assessors
96. Data Transmission Optimizers
97. System Anthropologists
98. Data Actuaries
99. Last Milers – People who specialize in bridging the gap between where the data fields end and the user communities begin.
3D Printing
3D printing was recently named by Goldman Sachs as one of eight technologies destined to creatively destroy how we do business. As an industry making inroads in thousands of different businesses simultaneously, former Wired Magazine editor Chris Anderson is famously quoted as saying, “3D printing will be bigger than the Internet.”
100. Automation Auditors – Assessing what parts, processes, and systems can be automated.
101. Material Experts
102. Design Engineers
103. Cost Estimators
104. 3Dimensionalists – Those with an innate ability to think three dimensionally.
105. 3D Printer “Ink” Developer
106. 3D Food Printer Chef
107. 3D Printed Clothing Fashion Designers, Material Specialists, and Stylists
108. Organ Agents – 3D printed organs are now being created and are in hot demand.
109. Manufacturing Process Consultants
110. Maintenance Guys
Internet of Things
Seventy-five billion is the number of devices that Morgan Stanley has calculated will be connected to the Internet of Things by 2020. That’s 9.4 devices for every one of the 8 billion people that will be on earth in only seven years. IBM even created a starter kit to help people get started.
111. Locationists – People who specialize in adding the relevance of “place” to our global online communities.
112. Lifestyle Auditors
113. Efficiency Consultants
114. Ownership Network Setup Specialists – Everything people own over a certain value can be tagged, tracked, and monitored.
115. Augmented Reality Architects – Much like the paint we put on houses and the flavorings we add to food, the future will seem boring if our reality hasn’t been augmented in some way.
116. Avatar Relationship Managers – As the foibles of humanity enter the realm of autonomous, freethinking avatars, people will find it necessary to both manage and limit the often-dangerous relationships avatars get themselves into.
Big Data
Social media, blogs, web browsing, and company’s security systems are all generating enormous quantities of data, and it all needs to be stored, managed, analyzed, and protected.
118. Data Interface Mavens
119. Opportunity Spotters
120. Waste Data Managers
To insure data integrity in today’s fast evolving information storage industry, multiple redundancies have been built into the system. Achieving more streamline data storage in the future will require de-duplication specialists who can rid our data centers of needless copies and frivolous clutter.
121. Computer Personality Designers – Talking back and forth to a computer that has a machine-like voice is boring. But being able to download specific “personality packages” will add an entirely new level of engagement for basement-dwellers everywhere.
122. Data Hostage Specialists – Holding people as hostages is very messy. But holding data hostage is a less-risky crime that can be done remotely, and has the potential for far greater rewards.
123. Smart Contact App Developers – Smart contact lenses superimpose information on the wearer’s field of view.
Crypto Currencies & Alternative Financial Systems
In 2008 the entire world was beginning to panic as our global financial systems teetered ever so close to total meltdown. Major banks were either failing or near failure, and the entire house of cards seemed to be one 10-of-Clubs away from becoming a meaningless flat stack in the middle of the table. Out of this growing distrust of banks, Wall Street, and our entire monetary system, the age of crypto currencies was born.
124. Crypto Currency Bankers, Regulators, and Lawyers
125. Currency Adoption Specialists
126. Anonymity Advocates
127. Theft Recovery Specialists
128. Crypto Currency Theorists, Philosophers, and Evangelists
129. Currency Strategists
130. Monetary Exchange Interface Experts
131. Standards Developers
132. Lending Tacticians
133. Seed Capitalists – In the startup business world there is a huge gulf between initial concept and fundable prototypes. This dearth of funding options will require an entirely new profession.
134. Privacy Managers – If you think you have lost most of your privacy already, we’ve only scratched the surface. We are all terminally human, and as such, we do not always make good decisions. Striking the perfect privacy-transparency balance will require far more than amateur insights. It will require privacy professionals.
135. Secondary Opportunity Maximizers
Micro Grid Conversion
Over the coming years, the national electric grid will be broken into a series of micro grids. Details here.
136. Micro Grid Strategists
137. Mass Energy Storage Developers – We are still terrible at storing energy from one day to the next. Once mass energy storage systems are developed, micro grids become infinitely more viable.
138. System Power Conversion Specialists
140. Efficiency Optimizers
141. Benefits Translators
142. Secondary Opportunity Expansionists
143. Backlash Minimizers
Contour Crafted Houses
Many people think of contour crafting as 3D printing for houses, but Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis from the University of Southern California sees it as much more. In addition to it’s ability to print an entire house in less than a day, it can be used to eliminate slums, help rebuild areas after a natural disasters, and even build large buildings and luxury homes with custom architectural features that can be changed with only a few clicks of a mouse. Details here.
144. Construction Material Designers
145. Structural Engineers
146. Site Planners
147. Setup Teams
148. Tear-Down Teams
149. Cleanup Teams
Driverless Everything
Driverless technology will initially require a driver, but it will quickly creep into everyday use much as airbags did. First as an expensive option for luxury cars, but eventually it will become a safety feature stipulated by the government. Over the next 10 years we will see the first wave of autonomous vehicles hit the roads, with some of the first inroads made by vehicles that deliver packages, groceries, and fast-mail envelopes.
150. Delivery Dispatchers
151. Traffic Monitoring System Planners, Designers, and Operators
152. Automated Traffic Architects and Engineers
153. Driverless “Ride Experience” Designers
154. Driverless Operating System Engineers
155. 1Emergency Crews for when things go wrong.
Bio-Factories
Based on using living systems, “bio-factories” represent a new process for creating substances that are either too tricky or too expensive to grow in nature or to make with petrochemicals. The rush to develop bio-factories as a means for production not only promises to revolutionize the chemical industry but also transform the economy. Hundreds of products are already in the pipeline.
156. Nano-Medics – The medical problems most people have can be traced to a single cell or a small group of them. Health professionals capable of working on the nano-level, both in designing diagnostics systems, remedies, and monitoring solutions will be in high demand.
157. Bio-Factory Doctors, Strategists, and Developers
158. DNA Scientists
159. Gene Sequencers
160. Treatment Monitors
Micro-Colleges
The systems used to create colleges centuries ago seems justifiably primitive by today’s standards. Learning formulas for nearly every degree are based on hours, one of the least important considerations when it comes to assessing talent. Colleges today cost far too much, and they take far too long. For this reason, a new wave of full-immersion skill training centers, or Micro Colleges, has begun to emerge. Details here.
161. School Designers
162. Policy Advisors
163. Career Advisors
164. Goal Counselors
165. Student Relationship Managers
166. Student Mentors, Coaches, and Counselors
Senior Living
With almost 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the number of seniors who need specialized housing will only increase the need for more options and better solutions.
167. Legacists – Managing people’s legacy
168. Lifestyle Housing Designers
169. Aging Specialists
170. Situational Therapists
171. Life-Stage Attendants
172. Memorial Designers
173. Octogenarian Service Providers – As the population continues the age we will have record numbers of people living into their 80s, 90s, and 100s. This mushrooming group of active oldsters will provide a demand for goods and services currently not being addressed in today’s marketplace.
Future Agriculture
When people think of farming, they typically conjure up images of a tractor cresting a hill billowing large plumes of exhaust into the air. This image will become a distant memory as automated machines, drones, and swarmbots enter the pictures. As with all industries, there are many micro-forces driving the changes in future agriculture. But there are three dominant trend lines – precision, relevance, and control – that will be driving this industry.
174. Plant-Jackers and Tree-Jackers – Plant and tree alteration specialists, who manipulate growth patterns, create grow-to-fit wood products, color-changing leaves, personalized fruit, etc
175. Molecular Gastronomists
176. Bio-Meat Factory Engineers
177. Supply Chain Optimizers
178. Urban Agriculturalists – Why ship food all the way around the world when it can be grown next door.
179. Bio-Hacking Inspectors and Security
180. Swarmbot and Drone Operators and Managers
181. Plant Educators – An intelligent plant will be capable of re-engineering itself to meet the demands of tomorrow’s marketplace. Plant educators will not work with lesson plans or PowerPoint presentations, but the learning process will be even more effective.
182. Plant Psychologists & Plant Therapists – As we mess with the “minds” of the plants, there will invariably be any number of unplanned reactions.
The Dismantlers
Over the coming years will see a number of industries dismantled, and this will require a skilled workforce of talented people who can perform this task in the least disruptive way. It’s easy to spot these industries by their aging systems, facilities, and infrastructure. In many cases they have become unnecessary and unsustainable in the future, and will be scaled back to a fraction of their current size.
183. Prison System Dismantlers –Details here.
184. Hospital and Healthcare Dismantlers – Details here.
185. Income Tax System Dismantlers – Details here.
186. Government Agency Dismantlers – Details here.
187. Education System Dismantlers – Details here.
188. College and University Dismantlers – Details here.
189. Airport Security Systems Dismantlers
190. Airport Customs Dismantler
Extreme Innovation
Outside of the multiple categories listed above are a number of unusual jobs, many still decades away. Here are just a few to consider.
1. Extinction Revivalists – People who revive extinct animals.
2. Robotic Earthworm Drivers – The most valuable land on the planet will soon be the landfills because that is where we have buried our most valuable natural resources. In the future, robotic earthworms will be used to silently mine the landfills and replace whatever is extracted with high-grade soil.
3. Avatar Designers – Next generation avatars will become indistinguishable from humans on a two-dimensional screen. However, avatars will only live in the computer world for a short time longer. It is only a matter of time before they emerge from the computer and appear as visual beings, walking around among us. Once an avatar goes through the radical metamorphosis from an image that we see on a screen to a three dimensional being that joins us for dinner, carries on conversations with our friends, and serves as a stand-in for us at meetings, we will see work start on an even more realistic avatar, one that we can touch.
4. Gravity Pullers – The first wave of people to unlock the code for influencing gravity.
5. Time Hackers – If we think cyber terrorists are a pain, it will seem like nothing compared to devious jerry-riggers who start manipulating the time fabric of our lives.
6. Clone Ranchers – Raising “blank” humans will be similar in many respects to cattle ranching. But once a clone is selected, and the personality download is complete, the former clone will instantly be elevated to “human status.”
7. Body Part & Limb Makers – The Organ Agents listed above will quickly find themselves in a different line of work as soon as we figure out how to efficiently grow and mass produce our own organs from scratch.
8. Global System Architects – Our systems are transitioning from national systems into global systems. Architects of these new global systems will play a crucial role in future global politics.
9. Memory Augmentation Therapists – Entertainment is all about the great memories it creates. Creating a better grade of memories can dramatically change who we are and pave the way for an entirely new class of humans.
10. Time Brokers – Time Bank Traders – Where do you go when you run out of time? Naturally, to the time-bank, and take out a time-loan.
11. Space-Based Power System Designers – At some point, the burning of earth’s natural resources for power will become a thing of the past. Space-based systems will capture and transmit power far more efficiently than anything currently in existence.
12. Brain Quants – Where the stock market manipulators of the past meet the brain manipulators of the future to usurp control of marketing and messaging on Madison Avenue.
13. Nano-Weapons Specialists – Many of the weapons of the future will be too small to be seen by the human eye.
14. Lip Designers – If you could have any lips in the world, what would they look like?
15. Earthquake Forecasters – Everything we know about the inside of the earth has been developed through indirect evidence. We have no maps of the center of the earth. We have no accurate diagrams, no understanding of motion, fluidity, or changes happening with any degree of accuracy. While scientists are developing skills to work with nanoscale precision on the earth’s surface, the best we can muster below the surface is blindfolded guesswork done with 100-mile precision.
16. “Heavy Air” Engineers – Compressed air is useful in a wide variety of ways. However, we have yet to figure out how to compress streams of air as they pass through our existing atmosphere. Once we do, it will create untold opportunity for non-surface based housing and transportation systems, weather control, and other kinds of experimentation.
17. Amnesia Surgeons – Doctors who are skilled in removing bad memories or destructive behavior.
18. Geoengineers – Weather Control Specialists – We are moving past the age of meteorology and climatology to one where the true power-brokers will wield the forces of nature.