Crystal ball gazing with Ford and the experts

What will you be doing in the future? We go crystal ball gazing.

Experts predict that over the next decade, almost every job in Australia will change.

Some jobs will disappear entirely, and new jobs that don’t exist today, will be created.

Ford Australia, Deakin University and Griffith University have enlisted experts across diverse industries to help predict “100 jobs of the future”.

Their predictions, based on trends in technology and demographic shift, include such weird and wonderful roles as:

• Autonomous Vehicle Designer
• Cyborg Psychologist
• Space Tourism Operator
• Robot Ethicist

Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) subjects will become increasingly important for young Australians; the report predicts.

While there is much talk is around machines taking jobs; experts say we will work with machines, not compete with them

The 100 Jobs of the Future report offers a diverse sample of potential jobs, including titles, descriptions and skills required, across numerous sectors.

The report was developed through comprehensive analysis of existing literature on work futures, as well as in-depth interviews with experts representing industries critical to future work: health, agriculture, engineering and materials science, transport and mobility, computing and artificial intelligence, commerce, and education.

“With a boom in emerging industries and new technologies such as robotics, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, many of the jobs today’s younger generation will do don’t even exist yet,” Lecturer, Science, Technology and Environmental Education at Deakin University, Peta White, said.

“Our aim with this project is to help parents, educators and industry professionals support the next generation in their future career ambitions.”

The report reveals creative intelligence, social intelligence, manual dexterity, problem solving, creativity, entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills as essential for the future.

“People will need to work with machines in new ways, rather than compete with them for jobs – this will be the way to keep pace with the changing economy,” Professor and Chair of Science Education at Deakin University, Russell Tytler, said.

The 100 Jobs of the Future report, future jobs quiz and educational resources can be found here.