Fortune Magazine interviewed Thomas Frey, author of the book "Communicating with the Future," who listed the 6 professions he believes will rapidly develop in the future.
Logistics managers use complex software to track the flow of goods and products, then brainstorm ways to make the entire process smoother and more efficient. Some logistics managers even collaborate with government agencies to help manage natural disasters.
Reason for selection: Looking at the global economy, all companies are committed to streamlining production and cutting costs, and they will hire logistics managers to do this. The US Department of Labor predicts an annual growth rate of 26% for this position before 2020, with an average salary of $71,910.
Frey believes that logistics managers are currently in a phase of acceleration. He predicts that this profession will soon expand from goods to more advanced industries such as defense, including drones, as well as public utility engineering projects, like self-driving cars.
How can hackers be ethical? In fact, many companies are now hiring these experts to intentionally hack into their own systems to identify security vulnerabilities before less ethical peers do. Ethical hackers even have certifications (Certified Ethical Hacker, CEH), tasked with developing network policies, intrusion detection, and virus development.
Reason for selection: The average annual salary is $92,200. Some worry that ethical hackers might turn “rogue,” applying their skills negatively, which is one reason this profession hasn’t become mainstream yet. Frey states that for ethical hacking to gain widespread acceptance, clear distinctions must be made about what is ethical and what is unethical. For instance, do ethical hackers have the right to distribute information obtained through their position? This battle between privacy and transparency will not settle down quickly, and fundamental laws are yet to be established.
Can you convert risk predictions into numbers? Actuaries can. Actuaries use mathematics and statistics to analyze the financial impact of risk for insurance companies, banks, consulting firms, and governments.
Reason for selection: The average annual salary is $87,650 and is expected to increase in the future. An anticipated growth rate of 27% over the next 7 years is expected. Frey says that actuaries’ skills can be applicable in many areas. While insurance companies are often their destination, Frey predicts that pharmaceutical companies will also need these individuals. He mentions that the healthcare industry is ready for many major changes; they’re just not visible yet.
Now you know that bird flu comes from birds, but who was the first to know? Epidemiologists. The job of these disease wizards is to discover the causes of various disease outbreaks, assess sterilization techniques and processes, come up with treatment improvements, and establish protocols to contain diseases and infections within hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and research laboratories.
Reason for selection: The US Department of Labor forecasts an annual growth rate of up to 35.8% for this position before 2020, with an average annual salary of $64,220. Frey expects this field to benefit more from the “Internet of Things” in the future, such as smart dust. He anticipates that smart dust containing micro-sensors will be utilized on humans, helping epidemiologists identify precursors to various diseases.
Press a button and you’re taken to another page. Simple, right? But someone has to program that button to work as intended, which is not simple. Front-end engineers, or front-end web developers, create everything you see online every day. Besides programming, front-end developers must also know how to optimize user experience.
Reason for selection: The projected demand growth rate over the next 7 years is 22%, surpassing the 14% growth rate for software developers. The average annual salary is $81,670. Frey states that this position is crucial, as interactions with online customers will determine a company’s success in the future. Who can make websites more intuitive and efficient? Certainly, it’s front-end engineers.
How to create the perfect cake? Ask a food chemist. The mission of these experts is to unlock and improve food taste and texture.
Reason for selection: Frey says this profession will be very popular in the future. He attributes this to 3D printing, predicting that we will cook our own food: just insert ingredient “cartridges” into the printer, and dinner can be “printed” out. This is all thanks to the food chemists who create these “cartridges.” Frey mentions that NASA has already launched research to understand the effects of 3D food printers on space missions. The average annual salary for a food chemist with a PhD ranges from $50,000 to $100,000. However, since food is essential to life, the future of this profession looks bright. Frey notes that our quirky diets will trend like the fashions of this week, leading to new markets and demands.
