Careers That Will Still Be Necessary And Relevant In 20 Years
With the digital age that has brought rapid advancement in information technology, there is growing concern around the potential for job automation in a huge number of industries. From food order apps to AI manufacturing robots, innovative technology is quickly beginning to replace the jobs performed by individuals around the world. However, there are some careers that robots simply cannot replace, thanks to their dependence on human intelligence and behavior. As an employee benefits company, we have a little insight and we’ve gathered some of the most significant roles that will still be necessary and relevant in 20 years.
Medical Professions
The medical industry is one of the most reliable choices for long-term career security. Many roles, such as nursing or therapy, demand a high level of interpersonal skills that cannot be replicated by technology.
Additionally, medical work is often highly unpredictable – a surgeon, for example, needs to be well-prepared to spot risky signs based on experience and adapt quickly if things don’t quite go to plan.
The tools and technology used will undoubtedly evolve and progress. However, in 20 years, the world will still need highly-qualified, compassionate and capable staff to work in the medical industry, making this a promising path to pursue for young doctors, nurses and therapists.
Trades
While technological advancements have improved the daily life of many tradespeople, these careers will still be highly necessary in 20 years. No matter how advanced our infrastructure becomes, it will still need careful, educated maintenance. Some of the most common careers in the trades that will remain relevant include:
- Plumbers
Plumbing is a complex trade that requires years of hands-on experience to succeed in, and finding the right fix frequently means going slightly off book. Through adapting to niche circumstances and using past experience to guide their judgement, plumbers ensure that their trade will continue to be sought after.
On top of this, plumbers are usually on the move day in, day out, visiting various locations that might be hard to reach, often at short notice. Travelling in this way will always be a prerequisite for plumbers, meaning this career path is certain to still be necessary in years to come.
- Electricians
Like plumbers, electricians need to be highly skilled and able to think on their feet to succeed in their career. Electrical engineers will be particularly sought after, as they have the knowledge and capability required to wire the smart home devices that are popping up around the country.
- Home Decorators
While there has been talk of the rise of wall-painting robots, home decoration is about more than manual labor. Not only does this trade require strong people skills to communicate a vision and collaborate with other tradespeople, but it also demands a creative flair that cannot be achieved by current technology. In 20 years’ time, home decoration as a career choice will be standing as strong as ever.
Teaching
In the face of new technology, the future workforce will need to be well-equipped to work in a range of roles. This might see them performing surgery, rewiring a home or operating heavy machinery. To learn these skills, they’ll need dedicated and supervised education, which is where teachers come in.
It’s been proven that students learn best from teachers who are engaged, personable and able to accommodate their unique circumstances, and these interpersonal skills will still be a prerequisite for the teaching profession as the years go by.
Think about the teachers of the past – even though technological advancement has already changed the way we see the world, nothing quite beats a knowledgeable teacher with a caring heart.
Veterinarians
With 70% of US households owning a pet, it comes as no surprise that veterinarians will still be one of the most in-demand and relevant careers in 20 years. Vets need to be compassionate, adaptable and calm under pressure, skills that will still be relevant in the future – while technology goes some way towards supporting vets with medical provision, it cannot safely complete the tasks they perform.
For those looking into new career paths, a veterinarian might be the best choice. Not only is the profession expected to grow exponentially over the next two decades, but it also gives individuals the chance to spend all day caring for our furry friends!
Legal Professionals
Careers in the legal profession are another great choice for those looking to secure a job in an industry that will still be necessary and relevant in 20 years’ time. Due to its reliance on human ingenuity, legal work is a complex area that cannot be mastered by artificial intelligence. For example, advising clients on a complex human rights case based on previous experience in the sector would be almost impossible for technology to achieve, as would the trust needed to balance precarious settlement offers with the risk of going to trial.
While there has been some level of automation in the drafting of legal documentation, this acts more to lessen the burden on junior lawyers than risk high level legal jobs.
Financial Careers
Like the legal sphere, the world of finance is one that is full of complexity, and demands individuals are able to sift through large volumes of information before making difficult decisions. There are a number of careers within finance that will still be needed in 20 years, such as:
- Accountants
Although technology can be influential in the financial sphere, accountancy will be a relevant profession for years to come, thanks to the trust that is needed between a client and a professional. Accountants not only manage funds, but they also play a key role in the processing of tax returns, so having a trustworthy person in charge allows clients to relax knowing that they are leaving things to the professionals.
- Financial Advisors
As humans naturally relate better to other humans, financial advisors offer a beacon of light in the financial industry when it comes to jobs that will be safe from automation. Not only do advisors need practical knowledge, but they also need soft skills that will play a vital role in the progression of this career path over the next two decades.
Ultimately, there are some career paths that we will see dwindle over the next 20 years. As shown, however, there are still a huge number of job opportunities that are available for those looking to future-proof their career plan. Going into teaching, law, medicine or one of the trades is a fantastic way to do this, and one that will allow people to let technology work for them, rather than against them.
