Jobs of the future - it's not all robots

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Preparing students for careers that don’t exist is no simple task, especially considering that of the most in-demand roles today haven’t been all that long — think UX designers, SEO experts, social media managers and virtual assistants.

Technology is evolving faster than ever before — some jobs are disappearing, others are evolving and industries are changing quickly. It’s undeniable that AI is changing how we work and robots are replacing jobs of our parents’ generation.

As always, with change comes opportunity. A 2017 report by Commonwealth bank stated that ‘the future of work will be primarily about how people can collaborate effectively with machines to do what neither can do alone’.

Alongside Deakin and Griffith universities, Ford Australia has created an extensive report on what the workforce will look like in the coming years. The report describes possible future roles and the skills they’ll call for, plus a quiz students can take to find out what job they’re best suited to. According to Ford, the major drivers of change will be technological advances, climate change, data democratisation and globalisation.

The industries of tomorrow will be centred on big data, algorithms, 3D printers and prosthetics, intelligent materials and more nuanced and complex ways of communicating. The report also states that digital skills and STEM/STEAM skills are required across all future jobs. But it’s not all robots and AI — the list features jobs like ‘100-year counsellor’, a profession that would focus on helping people in their third age.

Here is just a handful of jobs that made the list:

  • Chief ethics officers: Working with large companies and government organisations to ensure they are considering genuine ethical practices and adhering to corporate social responsibility.
  • Flood control engineer: With extreme weather events becoming more common and rising sea levels imminent, there will be demand for specialised skills in hydrology and water flow management.
  • Net positive architect: Designing building solutions to create viable and responsible buildings by using spatial design skills combined with knowledge of new materials, green building processes and software solutions.
  • Virtual surgeon: Performing complicated surgeries on patients in remote areas using robotics and virtual technologies.
  • Cyborg psychologists: Helping humans to accept their synthetic organs and robotic limbs.

We don’t know for sure what the future holds, but we do know that technology is only going to keep progressing and the workforce will keep changing. To view the complete list, visit 100jobsofthefuture.com.

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