Jobs of the future: 14 jobs that will be in demand in 2020 and beyond.

With advancements in robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, it is safe to say that many jobs will eventually become obsolete. It is believed that not enough is being done to equip the next generation with the skills they need to find gainful employment in this disruptive era of information technology and technological know-how. 

We are also aware that out of the thousands of university students who graduate each year, few find satisfying work (financial benefits, etc). More graduates are frustrated at the length of time it takes to land a job, and a small but significant number are still unemployed after three years or more of searching for work. 

The unemployment and underemployment rates among university graduates is quite concerning. No, we have not forgotten the hundreds, even thousands of persons who have left high school with a diploma but find it difficult to find even an entry-level position.

The workforce is still being trained in the old industrial model.

Below we have provided you with a list of professions that already exist that are expected to be even more in demand in the future. Salaries are quoted in US dollars and represent the average, yearly income each professional did earn last year. 

Unfortunately we could not find any recorded or official source for corresponding information for Jamaican salaries. The figures placed here are to provide a reference point for the reader. The information therefore is to provide insight into each career's financial viability and longevity.



1. Solar Energy Technician

Like wind energy, solar power will continue to be a major part of humanity's transition toward a clean-energy future. The cost of solar energy keeps dropping year after year, so it's becoming much more affordable for businesses and homeowners. In cities all around the world, solar energy technicians are enjoying stable employment in a growing industry that makes a positive difference. In the U.S., about 30,000 solar technician jobs may become available over the decade from 2016 to 2026. The average yearly pay for this occupation was USD $42,680 in 2018.

2. Wind Energy Technician

With climate change threatening to severely damage the world as we know it, it will become more important to move to clean energy sources. Reducing carbon and methane emissions means transitioning away from fossil fuel sources like oil, coal, and natural gas. That means wind energy will likely be a big part of the future. It's already an industry that's grown a lot. And it will likely grow a lot more, meaning that skilled technicians will be needed to help with the installation, maintenance, and repair of giant wind turbines. About 14,000 job openings could be generated for wind energy technicians over the decade that ends in 2026. The average salary in this field was USD $54,370 in 2018.

3. Nurse Practitioner

Because of an aging and longer-living population, the health care system may have trouble keeping up with the growing influx of patients. Many regions could experience severe shortages of doctors. They'll need more non-physician health professionals with the ability to diagnose and treat patients with various acute and chronic conditions. Registered nurses who get the right kind of advanced education at the graduate level can become nurse practitioners and help fill that void. 


4. Software Developer

Computers, robots, and mobile devices are useless without the well-engineered software that gives life to the sophisticated hardware it runs on. As the Internet grows and machines get smarter and more connected to us and to each other, the need for talented software developers will expand. Mobile app development, especially, is considered one of the best careers for 2020 and beyond.  The average yearly pay for application software developers in 2018 was USD $103,620.

5. Physical Therapist

As the world population ages, the need for physical therapy professionals will increase. Many elderly end up requiring a form of physical rehabilitation, pain management, mobility assistance, or therapeutic treatment as they age. From 2016 to 2026, about 177,000 jobs are projected to become available for physical therapists. 

6. Registered Nurse (RN)

In total, more than two million jobs are expected to become available for Registered Nurses by the year 2026. Our Jamaican nurses are among the best trained in the world, and are being vigorously recruited by foreign medical facilities/organizations. 

Registered Nurses will no doubt continue to be in high demand for decades to come, even if their roles change a little because of technological advances and medical breakthroughs. The average salary for RNs in 2018 was USD $71,730 per annum.

7. Health Services Manager

The health care sector may undergo more changes over the coming decades than most other industries. Every health and medical organization will need highly knowledgeable leaders and managers to help them adapt to legal, regulatory, and technological changes while still improving the quality and efficiency of the services they deliver. Health and medical services managers earned an average yearly pay of USD $99,730 in 2018. About 367,000 job openings worldwide may become available in this field by 2026.

8. Data Analyst

Thanks to computing advances and a cultural shift toward more tracking and measuring, the amount of data that gets collected every year grows by an astonishing amount. 

Organizations of every type now have the ability to gather so much detailed information that it's becoming more and more difficult for a lot of them to figure out what it all means. They need professionals who can not only collect the data they need, but also spot patterns, identify past and current trends, and forecast future probabilities. The average salary for a data analyst is USD $58,987.

9. Digital Content Specialist

One of the major cultural revolutions that keeps getting more entrenched is the move toward more dynamic, digital, interactive, and on-demand media. Digital devices keep us constantly connected to almost any kind of information or entertainment we want to consume, the demand for fresh content that breaks through the noise is never-ending. Organizations in every industry are discovering that generating new digital content is becoming a major key to sustaining their effectiveness. That's why digital content specialists—with all kinds of different job titles and abilities—are increasingly in high demand, especially with the growing popularity of remote work and freelance gigs. To prepare for this type of position, it's smart to get training in areas like Internet marketing, writing, and multimedia and digital arts.

10. Information Security Analyst

As our modern way of life gets more intertwined with computers and dependent on information technology (IT), we all become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. So far, we've been lucky that criminal hackers haven't shut down critical infrastructure on a very large scale or for an extended period of time. But that day is probably coming unless we have enough computer security specialists to help the government and essential organizations protect their networks and IT systems. Cybersecurity is a world-wide issue, and hackers keep getting more sophisticated in their attacks. In 2018, the average yearly salary was USD $98,350.

11. Computer Systems Analyst

The reasons for getting an education in computer science will probably continue to multiply as information technology grows more complex and intertwined with everything in our lives. That growing complexity is why more and more organizations will likely need systems analysts going forward. Companies will need help choosing and implementing the best hardware and software, including (potentially) robots and artificially intelligent machines. It is estimated that by 2026, computer systems analysts could benefit from 449,000 job openings worldwide. In 2018, the average salary in this field was USD $88,740.

12. Biomedical Engineer

Professionals in this field are already starting to revolutionize the health care industry. In fact, biomedical engineering is probably one of the best careers to get into if you want your work to have a positive impact in the years ahead. After all, biomedical engineers are involved in all kinds of cutting-edge research and development. For example, many of them get to design things like sophisticated medical devices, artificial organs, bionic body parts, and biological implants. 

13. Mechanical Engineering Specialist

Do you want to help develop some of the most exciting emerging technologies? Increasingly, mechanical engineers and mechanical engineering technicians are involved in the design and testing of things like advanced robots, automation equipment, 3D-printing machines, and clean energy devices.

 It's projected that by 2026, about 212,000 jobs could open up for engineers in this field and roughly 42,000 jobs could open up for technicians. In 2018, mechanical engineers earned an average yearly pay of USD $87,370. The technicians who helped them made USD $56,250.3

14. Electronics Engineering Specialist

Like mechanical engineering pros, a lot of people in this field get to help design, test, and evaluate cutting-edge technologies. As electronic circuitry and other components get smaller, more complex, and more powerful, it's up to these professionals to figure out how to take advantage of the latest technological advances. 

They may help develop things like better computers, automated machinery, handheld medical devices, and navigation and communications equipment. Going forward, some of them may even get to work on things like self-driving cars. By 2026 job openings are expected to total 51,000 for computer hardware engineers, 92,000 for other electronics engineers, and 120,000 for electronics engineering technicians worldwide. In 2018, the average salaries were USD $114,600 for computer hardware engineers, USD $102,700 for other electronics engineers, and USD $64,330 for technicians.




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