Future of work: the top careers of the next decade – The Age

Our core needs are the same, he says. We have to feed ourselves, we have to clothe ourselves, we have to house ourselves, we have to educate ourselves.

And if you think robots are going to do all those things for us in the near future, think again.

In contrast to what the vast majority of people believe, our jobs are not all going to technology, Misel says. What weve done is outsource the mundane and the routine to technology, because thats all that it can do at this stage.

Humans will still be needed. And here are some of the jobs Misel believes will be in highest demand.

Our bricklayers, our carpenters and our gardeners are going to be even more important over the next 5, 10 or 20 years, Misel says. We will want to have spare time in our lives, and many of us will have disposable income that we will be prepared to use to pay other people to do things for us.

Perhaps one day, you will be able to have a chip implanted that will enable you to speak French, fix the plumbing or dance the rumba. But not any time soon. Were going to need people who will teach us to do things, Misel says.

Educators are in high demand.Credit:iStock

I believe we will do most of our routine shopping online - for food, clothes and so on, Misel says. But we will still be humans with a herd mentality, who want to come together. Retailing may become showtailing - in other words, well go to experience rather than to buy - but it will still involve customer-facing jobs.

Ten years ago, someone who made coffee was just someone who made coffee. Now, theyre a barista. And a bartender is a mixologist. They have increased in status, Misel says. And they are likely to be in even higher demand in the years ahead, as people increasingly spend time and money on going out to eat and drink. The pandemic only exacerbated existing labour shortages, Misel says. You just cannot find enough hospitality workers.

People are going to live longer, and they are going to want to do so in good health. We will need a whole slew of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to help us to achieve those goals, Misel says. And it will be a rapidly evolving field. We will see a whole set of new medical procedures and medical practitioners, both doctors and allied health.

Like doctors, lawyers may need to develop new skills in the years ahead, but they wont be out of a job, Misel says. Lawyers will be using smart contracts and performing in blockchain. But the notion of having an enforceable document and somebody who understands that enforceable document will still be required.

If youre not sure which of these jobs is right for you, dont worry. One thing set to become increasingly redundant is the idea of having one career.

People will work hard at a task, then go off to do something unrelated using the skills they have acquired, Misel says. Many people will have a portfolio income, making money from different bits and pieces.

Knowing exactly where youre going isnt necessary. Some people will find their calling, and stay with it for life, and thats wonderful. For others, its a matter of understanding what their skills are, what it is they enjoy doing, and starting out on a path that makes sense for them.

If youre thinking about making the move to a booming industry of the future, learn more about the roles currently available and get advice on making a change by visiting SEEK Career Advice.

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Future of work: the top careers of the next decade - The Age