Do you want to be a space pilot?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

A government commissioned report outlining popular jobs of the future has highlighted body part maker, space pilot and alternative vehicle developer as exciting new career paths.

In The Shape of Jobs to Come report, experts predict that the advance of science and technology, population growth and climate change will likely create careers that are virtually unrecognisable today.

The digital revolution will create jobs for virtual lawyers and waste data handlers, while virtual teachers – in the form of avatars – could be managed externally by 'devotees' who match students with their 'teacher'.

Traditional roles within medicine and farming are expected to rely more heavily on the use of robots and computers. The study also predicts that nano-medics will become a real career path, paving the way for the discovery of new treatments for disease.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "A priority for this Government is to prepare Britain for the economy of the future and to make sure our young people can seize the opportunities that innovations in science and technology will bring."

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said: "These jobs are no longer the stuff of dreams. Today's schoolchildren could become our first generation of scientists to build a flying car or help reverse climate change."

Rohit Talwar, chief executive of research company Fast Future, who conducted the study, said: "The list of future jobs highlights the vast array of exciting things today's school children could be doing in 20 years' time.

"We're crossing the boundaries between science fiction and reality, and what we're seeing in the movies are becoming genuine career opportunities."