Your child could become a flying car mechanic or space tour guide
WHEN you ask your child what he or she wants to be when they grow up and the response is “a flying car mechanic” or a “fear containment manager”, don’t dismiss the idea as crazy as it could very well be an actual job in the future.
In the same way that digital innovation fuelled the rise of the social media manager, a job that didn’t exist 10 years ago, technology experts believe that jobs such as drone traffic optimisers, space tour guides and atmospheric scientists could be legitimate careers in the future.
Jen Bergh, a senior consultant at South African e-learning specialists Eiffelcorp, says these jobs are becoming less farfetched due to the advances of technology.
“Because of the growth of the digital world, we will end up doing jobs that we have never done before.”
US specialist and MacArthur Foundation Digital Media and Learning Competitions co-director Cathy N Davidson believes “65% of kids will end up with jobs that have yet to be created”.
This is likely to be the trend the world over, with an article in Fortune magazine earlier this year reporting that 25 million new jobs will be created in the US because of advancements in technology.
The future will see high demand for computer programmers, data analysts and “those who design, make and install all sorts of sensors across the commercial landscape”.
While Bergh believes these jobs could easily exist, she says the South African education system would need to be tweaked to prepare youth.
“The strength of future jobs requires a stronger curriculum with an emphasis on maths, science, computer sciences and technology, together with a creative and innovative environment,” Bergh said.