The Future World Of Work

With companies like bookstores and video rentals closing, and other major organizations like manufacturing and financials downsizing, jobs that were counted on in the past are disappearing.  In their places are new jobs with new technologies and job requirements. 

Manual tasks, like manufacturing, assembly, and production work are now done by robots on assembly lines.  Manufacturing plants need fewer real people to work the intricate computer systems that operate the production lines.  The focus of employment will be shifting to new areas and new jobs. 

In a recent article, Forbes explored six high paying jobs of the future.  Based on a book by Thomas Frey, these jobs of the future not only promise future employment, they will also pay a high salary.  These jobs will improve productivity, and serve needs created by an increasingly digital world.

Logistics is all about moving things around quickly and efficiently.  Grocery stores, department stores and just about any type of manufacturing depend on logisticians to design space for flow and to make it easy for customers to buy.  These jobs are predicted to pay up to $71,000 per year.

Are you a computer programmer with a little bit of a rogue in you?  Do you have an inclination to intrigue?  Companies pay a lot of money to have someone intentionally hack into their computer systems just to find out what the weaknesses are.  A Certified Ethical Hacker does just that, but the intent is not to steal millions or just disrupt a company.  These ethical professionals are paid in the $90,000 range. 

Now that just about everyone and everyone’s business is online, web developers will be in demand more than ever.  Actuaries, long the boring, tedious profession of insurance companies, can demand an $87,000 annual salary and branch out into the lucrative and recession-proof healthcare industry.  Preparing for the next pandemic?  Epidemiologists, or those who work on forecasting and preventing the next epidemic,will bring in over $60,000. 

The World Future Society predicts that 2 billion jobs will disappear by 2030.  In a TEDx speech, Thomas Frey shared industries that seemed indestructible, but are quickly becoming obsolete because of the increase in digital technology.  The power industry would seem to be one that couldn’t possibly lose ground.  How are we going to power up all the electronic devices and chargers for all the digital tools and toys we can’t seem to live without?  Everything is getting smaller and more productive, and in the future, so will energy generations.  Gone will be the large, expensive, dirty and dangerous power plants that supply electricity.  Smaller, more efficient ways of generating power will force the closing of plants, wind farms and coal plants. 

Another industry on the way out will be automotive.  Some may say that the automotive industry has already suffered a blow, but with driverless cars on the horizon, jobs that require drivers, like busses, trucks and taxis will put a lot of people out of business  Why pay people a salary when new technology will make drivers unnecessary. 

Education is already moving online.  Soon, there won’t be a need for professors and teachers.  Buildings are expensive.  Campuses cost a lot of money to staff, clean, and maintain.  Why gather students into one area when they can learn online in the comfort of their home.  Talk about losing jobs.  It’s not just education, but the hundreds of people in different jobs to keep the campus life going.  Not to mention the local businesses that exist to cater to the needs of thousands of college students in one area.

Recruiters are going to have to shift their focus and learn how to find the right candidates for the new jobs that are being created and how to coach those who have been displaced.  It is a new world of a new type of work.

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