Want a job in 2025?
These are the sectors to focus on when Five million jobs will soon be lost to automation
Image: REUTERS
Written by
Rosamond HuttFormative Content
Published
Monday 5 September 2016
Two-thirds of Americans expect that within 50 years, robots and computers will do much of the work humans do now.
And less than five years from now, according to the World Economic Forum’sFuture of Jobs report, 5 million jobs will have been lost to automation. But technological advances – in robotics and machine learning, for example – will also create new jobs and change the skills that employers need from human workers.
Image: World Economic Forum
To compete in the future job market, workers – even those in occupations less directly affected by automation – will need to update their skillsets, the report says.
Here’s a look at a few of the fastest growing occupations identified by the USBureau of Labor Statistics BLS and the Future of Jobs report, and the skills you’ll need to get them.
– Software developer, computer systems analyst and market-research and marketing specialist jobs are set to grow by around a fifth between now and 2024, according to the BLS. For these jobs, technology and computational thinking skills will be vital.
– Medical technicians, physical therapists, and workplace ergonomics expert jobs are set to see increased demand, as care-giving becomes an increasingly important skill in an ageing society.
– Sales and marketing specialists and customer service representative jobs are also set to grow. Sales-related jobs are one of the top five growth areas, according to the Future of Jobs report.
Social and emotional intelligence and understanding new media platforms and how to communicate effectively will be valuable skills, particularly while robots struggle to master them.
– In a fast-changing world, education and training jobs are expected to increase – at number six on the Future of Jobs report list of growth sectors.
– Management analysts, accountants and auditors will see double-digit growth, with adaptability and business acumen being particularly desirable skills for these roles.