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How the world of work is changing
The world of work is constantly changing. Advances in technology mean that many jobs that may have existed 50 or 100 years ago are no longer needed. Many jobs that were until recently done in an office, are now done at home or as 'hybrid' working. And new jobs are being created because of the need to tackle climate change or because of the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the workplace. These changes mean we need to be ready to adapt - to learn new skills and work in new ways with other people and with machines.
New jobs are appearing all the time and other jobs have gone. Here are some examples:
Past jobs |
Present jobs |
Future jobs? |
| Film projectionist Ice cutter Lamplighter Legger Print setter Rag and bone man Switchboard operator Town crier Typesetter Typist VCR repairer Word processor |
3D printing technician Artificial intelligence (AI) engineer Bid writer Commercial energy assessor Cyber intelligence officer Heat pump engineer Recycling operative Search engine optimisation (SEO) specialist Solar panel installer Solutions architect Sustainability officer Wind turbine technician |
AI ethics consultant Algorithm bias auditor Biomechanics service person Cyber calamity forecaster De-extinction zoologist Digital removalist Human-machine teaming manager Nostalgist Prompt engineer Space tourism guide Urban agriculturalist Web history archivist |
The impact of technology on jobs
There is some debate about the impact that technology and AI will have on the number and types of jobs available in the future. This is because we are not yet certain of everything it is capable of doing!
Jobs that are most likely to be affected by advances in technology are those that involve doing repetitive routine tasks, because they will be done by machines instead. This is already having an impact on some jobs, for example:
- In retail, there are self-checkouts instead of people working as checkout operators.
- In customer service, tasks that would have been done by a person are now automated. For example, when you ring up a bank or utility company, your query is often dealt with without having to speak to anyone.
- In cleaning, autonomous cleaning machines are now used in airports and shopping centres without the need for people to use or supervise them.
Jobs in other sectors will be affected too, where routine tasks will increasingly be done by AI, leaving people to do more complex work. For example:
In the legal sector, AI can review contracts and summarise case law, but legal professionals are still needed to talk to and represent people, to advocate for them and to negotiate on their behalf.
In graphic design, AI can generate images quickly, but designers are still needed to work out what a client actually needs, and to create original designs.
In digital jobs, AI can write code and help identify bugs, but developers are still needed to design systems, and to ensure they meet an organisation's needs in terms of size and security.
Jobs in some sectors are less likely to be affected by AI. Examples include many of the more practical jobs in construction, and jobs in health care and the emergency services.
How do you prepare to work in jobs that might be changing all the time?
Employers need staff who are prepared to train more often to develop the higher level skills that many current jobs, and jobs of the future, are likely to need. It is important to:
- Keep your skills up to date and to learn new skills throughout your working life.
- Use the National Careers Service website to explore all the different jobs that are available. Don't just look at jobs you already know about, look at all the jobs in the sector you are interested in and you'll come across some you have never heard of, but that might be right for you.
- Be flexible and adaptable in work. Be open to doing things in a different way, if needed.
- Have good levels of English, maths and IT - if you can, to at least level 2, which is the same as 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4. Jobs of the future are likely to need these as a basic requirement.
- Have good communication and other soft skills - team working, organisational, time keeping, problem solving skills.
- Be prepared to have more than one career in your lifetime. Changes in technology, society and the climate might mean that the job you start off doing no longer exists, but it also means there will be new opportunities.
