Training for the future: Top 5 future proof jobs in New Zealand

Before you jump into the workforce, one of the main things that might be plaguing your mind is which industries and professions are future-proof. New technologies are revolutionising the job market and in doing so, are continuously altering the future of work. While some occupations and industries are dying thanks to automation and artificial intelligence, others are just being created and are thriving.

You wouldn’t want to spend 13 years in high school followed by several years of tertiary study only to graduate and discover you have no job prospects. No one can say with certainty what the future of work will look like, but experts predict that these seven career areas have the most promising future:

People will always need medicine and healthcare workers as long as humanity lives. The New Zealand Government puts in a significant investment of around $20 Billion each year into the Ministry of Health. They have been directed to use this money to develop a new set of performance measures to improve health outcomes for New Zealanders.

As a result, demand for jobs will skyrocket. There are many fields within the healthcare sector, with some roles being:

like physiotherapy, general practitioner, dental hygienist, pharmacists and personal trainers will skyrocket.

In addition, 40% of doctors and 45% of nurses are aged over 50 years. This ageing population of workers means we need to continually invest in training young people to meet with the health needs of the New Zealand population.

The health industry is a diverse workforce with many avenues to branch into. This means following a career path in the health industry is one that will ensure the security of your foreseeable future. 

Another future-proof field of work is science and engineering. Over the past decade, society has switched focus onto the impact of carbon emissions and human activity on our environment. Overall, spending with an environmental classification increased 40% from NZ$0.92 billion in 2017 to NZ$1.28 billion last year.

As a result, alternative energy sources such as wind, hydrogen and solar have become increasingly mainstream. Hence, we can expect to see high demand for professions such as:

Many of the jobs in this field will be well-suited for people with a passion for creating ways to produce more sustainable products and battle climate change. 

At the turn of the 21st century, we saw a significant technological boom with the production of personal computers, smart devices, interactive televisions, and so much more. These devices have changed the way we communicate and do business, and they don’t show any signs of slowing down. You can expect a future-proof career in roles like:

Another industry that will always be in high demand is law and legal professions. Globalisation has made business an international trade, meaning there’s an ever-increasing demand for professionals with technical skills in law, tax, regulations and ethics. There is expected to be a 30% increase in demand for skilled workers in the legal field in 2020. It’s an industry with my branches, and a variety of roles:

Lastly, for the more creative types, a job in content creation or marketing is an exciting path to consider. Social media and the rise of automation have turned the workforce on its head. Consequently, the demand for digitally literate, multifaceted professionals has risen in a range of industries. Roles in this field range from:

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg for this growing field. Data from LinkedIn back in 2013 showed social media jobs and businesses exploded by 1300% in the period between 2010 and 2013, and that hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down.

You’ll need excellent communication skills and a skill set in technology to thrive in this fast-paced digital industry, but with the right qualifications, anyone with a creative mind will quickly find a niche they love in content creation and marketing.