The top professions of the future that are already trending!

Do you know what the jobs of the future are? They all have one thing in common: the ongoing technological revolution we’ve been witnessing!

If you are starting off your professional life, probably there are dozens of indecisions boiling on your mind and you have realized how traditional jobs can suffer drastic changes over the years. Maybe you have doubts about going to college or investing in a different career that brings you pleasure.

Or maybe you already have a career, but you want to know about the changes in the job market. There are a ton of options, but keeping an eye on the professions that will be most sought after in the future is essential.

This is a common doubt and, inevitably, should be considered according to the job market in the next years.

If this is your case, today we will talk about how innovations can affect current jobs and what the future holds, taking into account the new technological wave that is upon us.

Why you should know the jobs of the future

A few years ago, there was a lot of talk about new technologies and how the world would change drastically around the year 2022. A lot of curious predictions about how our lives would be affected by all the changes to come were introduced. The reality is that we are living through a technological revolution that, so far, only existed in sci-fi stories.

Whereas Generation X wanted stability and acquiring goods, Millennials want experience, which is not necessarily connected to owning more things.

Generation Z was born in the digital age. These are young people who do all kinds of things all at the same time. It’s not for nothing that they represent the technological future of the labor market. They are driving this trend.

More and more people use private transportation apps and prefer renting instead of buying their own place to live.

The logic of the job market will always be aligned as science innovates, technology develops and new demands arise in the world.

That’s why there’s so much talk about innovation companies, and what they do is really this: they adapt to what the public wants.

Companies such as Airbnb and Uber were not just a lucky guess.

And it is based on this demand in the market that we predict the professions that will be in high demand in the next few years!

Jobs of the future: 31 professions that are and will continue to be on the rise

Although many careers will simply cease to exist, others will be created to meet new needs. They are:

1. Software developers

They are, and will still be for a long time, valued professionals in the market. They are part of the group that creates new systems to automate processes.

Without developers, this tech era wouldn’t be in full swing today. They analyze, understand, execute, and perform maintenance for platforms and write the code ​that builds business and services.

2. Specialists in User/Customer Experience

There are different variations for this professional in the market, such as Customer Success Analyst.

The job of this professional is to provide all the necessary assistance to a client when a certain product is bought, or a service is hired.

Additionally, they’re responsible for making sure that communication with the customer is carried out effectively, ensuring satisfaction and loyalty. 

It is increasingly common to find these professionals in e-commerce companies and other platforms that pay close attention to the customer’s results and positive experience.

3. Creators

These professionals are already popular, and will remain so in the next few years. These are the people who create content online – they are also known as digital influencers.

A creator is a wiz when it comes to social media, especially Instagram. The success of these professionals can be explained by the fact that people today want to connect more with real people, not with brands.

However, brands already know this and are increasingly exploring partnerships with online influencers. Pretty sweet gig, right?

4. Advisor to Creators

There are many agencies and professionals that take care of the careers of digital influencers, and the tendency is that more and more will be needed as new creators emerge.

Advisors to creators, in addition to helping score partnerships with companies, also guide and manage career paths.

5. Online teacher

A major trend in the professions of the future is online teaching. And teachers have started to notice the potential of the online classroom, which allows them to reach more students.

This is a trump card for professionals who want to grow their business of spreading knowledge. The market of online courses is increasingly specialized and disseminated.

Do you want to learn how to share your unique knowledge with folks all around the world? Check out our YouTube channel for some amazing tips!

6. Coaching

A coach is a professional who helps other people advance in different areas of their lives, but especially their professional careers.

There are coaches in all kinds of areas, such as finance, romance, emotional intelligence, weight loss, spirituality, etc. 

For those looking to become a coach, there are courses for this specific profession, teaching techniques, and tools to help future clients.

7. Personal Trainer

Now that social media has more and more influence on body image, the demand for people who want to exercise daily will continue to increase.

A lot of folks find it hard to keep physically active. They need the help of a specific coach to get them off the couch and to create personalized routines for them.

8. Digital marketing professional

Even though this is an old profession, this professional has gained a lot of space in the online world, which led to specialization in this career focusing on the Internet.

9. Big data analyst

This professional analyzes all the data coming from a system or circulating online. They use data science to show companies what will influence their business now and in the future. 

The digital world relies heavily on data to analyze and improve its processes. That’s why the role of a Big Data Analyst has emerged and is in such high demand.

10. Community manager

This professional is responsible for dealing with customers and communities around a company, collecting opinions in order to improve the business and the position of the company with these people.

Some companies already have people in this position, which will surely expand in the next few years. It is an essential role within organizations, as they are the ones building the culture around the company, creating fans of the brand.

11. Environmental engineer

The environment has been suffering drastic changes, and this profession will be essential among the jobs of the future.

The main responsibility of this professional is to work with technology and the environment. The need to create new environmental management systems and solutions to help the planet is undeniable.

12. Hospital engineer

Technology in hospitals has also evolved and new machines are developed for new treatments, surgeries, and the day-to-day lives of health professionals. That’s why hospital engineers are definitely among the jobs of the future.

And that is why we have hospital engineers on the list of professions of the future. Their main role is to gather and apply all technologies considered essential to solve all kinds of problems in hospitals.

13. Information security

This will be the professional that ensures that all digital information from a certain company isn’t tampered with or hacked.

As technology has grown, so has malicious intent online. Unfortunately, some folks are out to steal data from people and companies. Information security professionals not only ensure that data is protected but also help create new solutions.

14. Waste manager

Tthe production of residue has increased considerably, especially the solid ones, which has led to the need of managing this matter.

A waste manager needs to see trash differently, creating new projects and solutions to find better ways to deal with all that discarded material.

15. 3D Architect and Engineer

In the engineering sector, architecture and urbanism, it will be possible to project spaces in 3D, and that’s why professionals should specialize in this area to provide a more realistic experience to their customers.

16. Wearables developer

Wearables are glasses, lens, watches and other devices with some kind of technology that makes people’s lives easier. And the professionals that can develop these devices are going to be in high demand in the next few years.

17. Image consultant

Similar to the physical activity coaches, an image consultant provides people with the best advice on how to look good. And not only in their personal lives, but professional as well, from haircuts to outfits.

18. Innovation manager

As much as this sounds like a generic term, it is already possible to find companies with this job offer.

This professional will be responsible for rethinking the strategies of a company, be it in its core business or in some specific area, in order to improve their business model.

In the end, for a company to be able to stand out in the market, it’s necessary to innovate and think differently. More and more competitors are popping up, and the innovation manager’s role is to come up with new things to keep a step ahead of the rest.

19. Geneticist

This is already a current profession that will gain more space in the upcoming years. Among the many tasks of a geneticist, is the possibility of identifying diseases a person might develop in the future, and act on it even before the symptoms appear.

20. Talents manager

Managing talents goes a little bit beyond what the Human Resources does nowadays. It is necessary to identify and act more assertively on the strengths and weaknesses of people, to allow them to become better professionals in their careers.

A talent manager, in addition to training professionals to improve their skills, acts in recruiting new employees while helping keep the company’s culture strong and reducing turnover.

21. Inside sales representative

The customer has now much more choices, and that’s why companies, especially those in the B2B market, have representatives that will approach the customer only when they have shown interest in the product. This means that sales will be more and more personalized, and assertive depending on the prospect.

22. E-commerce specialist

E-commerce is already a very common business model in people’s lives. However, with so many virtual stores competing online, standing out will be necessary to attract customers.

23. Mental health professional

Pprofessions that deal with matters of the mind (therapists and psychiatrists, for example) will still be in high-demand. The explanation is quite simple: it is still very unlikely that machines will replace the personalized care that these professionals have towards their patients.

24. Specialist in renewable or alternative energy

Concern about the environment keeps on growing and it will not cease in upcoming years. On the contrary! The tendency is that it will be more and more necessary to think about alternative resources that won’t impact our environment. That’s why this kind of professional is extremely important in our future.

25. Financial manager

This professional is and will be for many years indispensable so that small and large businesses can manage their money and keep their finances in the black. As much as there is virtual intelligence that can do math better than humans, this position also comes with the responsibility of making decisions computers are not yet able to make.

26. Walker/Talker

Walker/Talkers are self-employed professionals hired to spend time with elderly customers through an online platform, which allows them to listen and talk to them.

It’s a different type of profession than traditional caregivers who deal with medication and assist in bathing and feeding. 

But if you’re thinking a Walker/Talker will never be something of the future, you’re mistaken. Lots of older people live far from their families and don’t have anyone to talk to. They want and need someone to listen to them and really pay attention to what they have to say.

27. Quantum machine learning analyst

A  quantum machine learning analyst is responsible for researching and developing cutting-edge solutions to increase the speed and performance of system algorithms. 

It’s one of the most important professions of the future, mainly because of the quantum aspect, which will be our next technological leap.

28. Paid Traffic Manager

A paid traffic manager has a fundamental role in any business. Their job is creating and managing paid media campaigns, such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads. In addition, they carry out A/B tests to identify points of improvement for conversion.

The growth of demand for professionals specialized in this area is growing quickly, mainly because paid media is so important in customer acquisition and leads. Without an expert, companies can take a huge loss.

29. Social Media Analyst

Social media professionals plan, create and analyze profile posts on social media. So, just like paid traffic managers, this profession is on the rise, and with the emergence of new types of social media, more and more companies will rely on these professionals.

30. Web Developer Web

Developers are responsible for designing, building, and managing sites using different programming languages. Since the internet is not a passing fad, the need to hire a developer will continue to grow a lot in the coming years.

31. UX Design Specialist

A UX Designer (User Experience) is responsible for ensuring that the design for a website or app meets the user’s needs with innovative and attractive solutions.

User experience has to be taken into account for marketing strategies to be successful. The user needs to be guided through the site, responding to the design in a way that will lead to conversions. Demand is high, and whoever decides to work in this area will have a lot of demand in the market.

How to prepare for these jobs of the future?

The biggest insight for the years to come is thinking about careers that deal with creativity and relationship.

This is because those are functions that artificial intelligence cannot reproduce well with precision.

In this list, we find salespeople, designers, and creators, also known as digital influencers.

These last ones are professionals who started to explore the opportunity new channels have to offer, such as YouTube, and discovered a way to profit by producing new content. The same happens to bloggers and digital producers, who transmit knowledge and debate about new topics that are relevant for a determined audience.

This profession will make more and more sense, especially thinking about Generation Y and Millennials, who are not used to watching television as our parents and grandparents still do. If before it was necessary to wait for the time the soap opera or the news would be on, today the user determines what and when he wishes to watch.  

The way in which we share knowledge is also evolving. More and more teachers, experts and teaching institutions pop up betting on the internet to teach long distance. The advantage of this model is the possibility of a high range of people being impacted by that content, regardless of the day and time.

For a not-so-distant future, one can predict classes using virtual reality headsets, which simulate the presence of an instructor or the practice of previously learned content. Have you ever imagined a simulation, almost real, of a science class in a lab? Michael Bodekar talks, in his TEDx talk, about how virtual reality will revolutionize the teaching of science, as you can check out on the video below:

Recently, a Second World War veteran went back to the city he freed from the nazis through virtual reality glasses. Meetings with distant relatives, business meetings, communicating with people from all over the world; every communication can be redefined by using only one gadget.

Medical treatments already use this kind of equipment to rehabilitate people who have lost the movement of the limbs, for autistic guidance, rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury and other illnesses. Have you ever imagined all the evolution this gadget could bring to medicine?

Professions that may become obsolete

As we advance in terms of technology, processes in society tend to become smarter and more automatized. In being so, it is possible to predict that the more operational a position is, the more it tends to vanish over the years.

An example is supermarket cashiers.

Recently, Amazon has launched Amazon Go, which is nothing more than a supermarket without cashiers. The client logs in an Amazon account when he or she gets to the shop and a virtual kart is created. When he leaves he will be charged on the same account which he checked in with. If you found this impressive, watch the video presenting the new technology:

In the same way, telemarketing operators are being substituted by automatic customer service, as well as tellers, once everything is done through mobile phones or ATMs.

Substituting human labor by machines in operational processes decreases company cost and is the reason why the trend is for even major traditional corporations to adapt to the new model. We have learned from Kodak that companies that do not get up-to-date are swallowed up by those who happily embrace innovations, even if they are newer to the market.

How to adapt to change

Even though some professionals get apprehensive by reading that their careers might come to an end, it is necessary to point out that many of them will only go through an evolutionary process.

An electrician, for example, will have to specialize in installing automatic gadgets for smart homes and offices.

However, it is necessary to prepare oneself not only for the new dynamic some companies have been taking on but also to adopt new specializations the new job market will demand.

Pay attention to the world around you and try to notice how you can contribute to solving demands or problems.

And, of course, study a lot. Seek different sources of knowledge, regardless of your position in the job market.

An important point of attention about the jobs of the future

To talk about careers of the future means to predict what will be on demand and, probably, will have satisfactory financial gains in a few years. But the concept of success is also going through changes. The youth who gets to the job market look for cozy and laid-back environments, with a purpose aligned with their future objectives. In other words, the premises of working with what makes you happy must make more and more sense.

This is a well-known aspect in young professionals who search for professional achievement, not only financially. We have written a post on this and, if you are about to make any important decisions in your professional life, we recommend you read it, just click here.

If our post was useful for you, you should also check out our article on how digital entrepreneurship is transforming the world we live in!

*This entry was first posted in January 2017 and updated in January 202w to contain more accurate and complete information.