Considering automation, climate change, and the economy, the job market could look very different in the next five or ten years. Some jobs will be rendered useless and thus become obsolete, whereas others will be in high demand. To ensure that your post-secondary degree will be helpful in preparing you for a lifelong career, ensure that you know the most prospective STEM fields and jobs of the future.
Written by Tavie Johnson
Category: Future Technology and Systems Engineering
1) A.I. Trainer & Technician
Artificial Intelligence is continually growing and improving. In the next few years, it will become a major component of our world - playing a role in the production of goods, operation of services and entertainment of our personal lives. The expansion of AI requires an increased number of people to develop and maintain this technology, with technicians working closely with the AI as it learns from its environment.
Predicted growth of field: 74%
Average salary: $142,000 CAD
2) Automated & Robot System Repair
From ordering fast food to shopping for groceries, and from going to the doctor to picking up a prescription, the services we use to run our daily errands could soon be entirely controlled by machines. Human providers may not be necessary, but we will need an abundance of engineers who can repair these automated systems.
Predicted growth of field: 10%
Average salary: $88,000 CAD
3) Drone Technician
Maintaining and controlling the drones that perform tasks like delivery, repairs and filming will be essential. Engineers will be needed to update and modify the machines, and other workers will have to ensure that the systems and services that drones provide are running smoothly.
Predicted growth of field: exponential
Average salary: $105,000 CAD
Category: Climate science and Green engineering
4) Climate Analyst & Weather Moderators
Technology will soon allow us to permanently alter the climate, for better or for worse. To control daily weather, and perhaps initiate and maintain geoengineering efforts, climate scientists and engineers will need to use new technologies and methods to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Predicted growth of field: 11%
Average salary: $80,000 CAD
5) Green energy engineer
Powering our world entirely on solar, wind, water, and other forms of renewable energy will take a massive effort from millions of people. Engineers will need to design, develop, and test the technology to harness the power from these renewable energy sources on a large scale. Workers will also be needed to construct the dams, panels and turbines required for the green energy revolution.
Predicted growth of field: exponential
Average salary: $90,000 CAD
6) Future farmer
By the year 2050, there could be 10 billion people on the planet. Combining this with a warming world means that it will become increasingly more difficult for countries to feed their populations. Genetic seed engineers, along with health scientists, will develop weather-resistant seeds to maximize the quality and quantity of food grown, and scientists will have to oversee these new methods of agriculture.
Predicted growth of field: exponential
Average salary: $85,000 CAD
Category: Medicine and Biology
7) Nurse practitioner
Nurses are responsible for the identification, assessment and treatments of infections, injuries and illnesses. Due to the growth of the healthcare industry, there will be an influx of nurse practitioners in the field.
Predicted growth of field: 31%
Average salary: $105,000 CAD
8) Organ designer and developer
Currently, patients can wait months or years for organs that are necessary for their survival, or may never receive them at all. Designing organs means that there will be minimal wait times and personalized treatments; not to mention it eliminates the risk of rejection or additional complications. Biomedical engineers will grow custom organs in labs, and surgeons will implant these in patients.
Predicted growth of field: exponential
Average salary: $100,000 CAD
9) Physical Therapist
As the population grows and a significant portion reaches old age, we will need more medical professionals to treat a greater number of patients with mobility issues. Physical therapists are responsible for reviewing patient histories, addressing dysfunctional movements, treating problems through stretches or exercises, and educating patients with the information needed to develop a healthy lifestyle.
Predicted growth of field: 34%
Average salary: $86,000 CAD
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