15 cool jobs you could have in the future

“The future” has always been a vague, rather fantastical concept. Since no one actually knows what the world will be like in ten, 20, or 50 years, it can be fun and fascinating to speculate. But these jobs that you, or perhaps your kids or grandkids, might be able to apply for down the line are actually backed up by scientific research—and by trends we’re seeing today!

A 2016 special issue of the journal New Space claimed that we may be settling on the moon by 2022 at a cost of $10 billion. Jeffrey Manheimer, Co-Founder & COO of Tripping.com, says, “Wealthy, thrill-seeking tourists are already paying $20 million for a week in the International Space Station and an estimated $175 million for a SpaceX tour of the moon.” Future lunar tourists will want to learn about the moon from qualified space tour guides: scientists and space colonisers who know the ins and outs of Earth’s natural satellite.

Driverless cars are already here, and autonomous boats are next. According to a report by Rolls Royce, the company is planning to launch its first remote-controlled, unmanned, ocean-going ship in 2030. With the possibility of ships being digitally operated comes the risk of these ships being hacked. Merit Valdsalu, CEO at StandByMate, says Virtual Security Officers will become key figures of the crew. “As 90 percent of the world’s trade is carried by sea, hacking autonomous cargo vessels might sound tempting to a new generation of pirates, who could cyber-attack vessels from their computers.”

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Social media, viral posts, and the complexity of the Internet make it difficult to delete embarrassing public and private moments that make their way online. Jon Brodsky, a manager at finder.com, says Generation Z is growing up without the awareness of the consequences that can come from a regretful digital footprint. “As this generation starts to enter the workforce, digital removalists will be in high demand to erase anything incriminating that could impact their future opportunities.”

Robots are here. Many people believe that they’ll take over our jobs (and then us), but machine learning isn’t perfect. Even robots are going to need human teachers to train and guide them. These trainers can help them learn the basics, like walking and talking, or the complexity of human emotions like empathy. “Robo coaches can help robots analyse complex trends on social media, for example,” says Harrison Brady, Communications Specialist at Frontier Communications.

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Automated systems—from bill processing to mail sorting to automotive assembly—are already becoming a vital piece of most businesses. Soon there will be even more demand for tech-savvy employees to oversee and update these systems. Ruben Vergara Meersohn, CEO & Founder of Wall Street International, says, “It’s likely the Chief Automation Officer (CAO) will become one of the most sought-after professionals to bridge the gap between business and IT processes.”

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How cool would it be to deliver packages from the comfort of an office? That’s the way of the future with delivery drones and self-driving trucks. The transportation industry will likely see less need for truck drivers travelling hundreds of kilometres daily and a greater need for remote drone drivers and pilots. Zach Howard, Business Development Manager at Nonstop Brokerage Inc., says delivery drones will become standard technology, and delivery companies will soon need to employ and maintain an entire fleet of drones with skilled pilots who can navigate the futuristic delivery landscape.

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This future expert will need to make online interactions feel like a game. Wes Lieser, Practice Director of Demand Generation & Marketing Technology at Versique Executive Search, says the Internet changed the buying habits of consumers these past 20 years, but it will have to work to keep future generations of customers. “Gamification isn’t just about keeping consumers engaged; it’s about keeping them entertained,” he says. The Gamification Marketing Specialist will help keep online buyers’ attention by making their experiences more playful and exciting.

The pricey headsets already exist—but the demand for virtual reality equipment is about to skyrocket. “All of the virtual reality and augmented reality adventures we will go on will require computer programmers and designers to create these new worlds,” says Dr Andrew Selepak, a professor in the Department of Telecommunication at the University of Florida. “Since virtual reality is virtual, someone will have to create it, and more and more people will need to have the training and skills to deliver on the future.”

While some cars can already drive themselves, they won’t be able to repair themselves anytime soon. Syed Irfan Ajmal, growth marketing manager at ride-sharing blog Ridester, says that thanks to the growth of ride-sharing and unique technologies like autonomous cars, we should soon see the demand for driverless car mechanics soar.