14 January 2010

Rohit Talwar - a global futurist, award winning speaker and author of 'Designing your Future : Key Trends, Challenges and Choices' - is helping the UK Government predict jobs that will exist in the future and how Britain can ensure that it's people have the right skills for these new vacancies. Commissioned by the Science: [So what? So everything] campaign, researchers from Fast Future, a company led by Talwar, analysed future trends, such as population growth and climate change, alongside developments in science and technology, to create a list of 20 potential jobs of the futuredigital revolution. Space pilots, vertical farmers and body part makers are just some of the jobs our kids could be doing in 20 years time ushering in a host of virtual lawyers, virtual clutter organisers, waste data handlers and personal branders.

The study paints an exciting picture of the jobs we could be doing by 2030:

• Safeguarding the environment will be more prominent than ever, with climate change reversal specialists, vertical farmers and weather modification police all attempting to deal with the impact of climate change and population growth
• Old age wellness managers, memory augmentation surgeons and body part makers will be needed to cope with an ageing society, enhancing the quality of life for a population where life expectancies could reach over 100
• Breakthroughs in space travel will lead to people swapping the office for the final frontier as space pilots, space architects and space tour guides

Of the top 20 future jobs highlighted, a global survey of future thinkers revealed:

• Brits are keen to ‘boldly go’, with space jobs the most aspirational, alongside nano-medics and memory augmentation surgeons.
• Cars, crops and older people could be the focus for many in tomorrow’s workforce, with old age wellness managers, vertical farmers and alternative vehicle developers creating the most jobs.
• For those looking to make the big bucks, nano-medicine, memory augmentation surgery and virtual law are the areas you should be telling your kids about, with the Fast Future panel predicting that these will be the best paid jobs in 2030.
• Work won’t all be ‘fun’ in the future with the least exciting jobs being weather modification police, to protect us from ‘cloud theft’; quarantine enforcers preventing the spread of diseases and waste data handlers who will dispose of our electronic mess.

The 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. The shape of jobs to come shows what might be on offer for the next generation. I hope it will inspire young people to gain the skills and training they will need to succeed."

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! Science is moving at an incredible pace. My message to them is be part of it!”

Fast Future CEO, Rohit Talwar, 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, all made possible by fields of science and innovation in which Britain has real expertise. We’re crossing the boundaries between science fiction and reality, and what we’re seeing in the movies are becoming genuine career opportunities."

Kate Bellingham, ambassador of Science: [So what? So everything] and the Government’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers champion says: “Last year, the new careers information, advice and guidance strategy stated that 'the top 10 jobs that exist in 2010 did not exist in 2004.' This Science: [So what? So everything] study reminds us how jobs in the future will change even more. It is very hard to prepare for such a transformation, but it is clear that education and training in STEM subjects keeps your options open, and can lead to a wide range of fascinating and important roles, solving the problems of our time and helping to shape our future.”

The Science: [So what? So everything] campaign aims to help people understand the impact that science has on their everyday lives, and the wealth of exciting job opportunities available in the fields of science and technology.

To find out more a visit www.direct.gov.uk/sciencesowhat.

Fast Future Research

Fast Future Research is a global futures research and consulting firm that specialises in helping clients understand, anticipate and respond to the trends, forces and ideas shaping the future. Key areas of expertise include horizon scanning, future timelining, scenario planning and development of future strategy. Fast Future is led by Rohit Talwar – a global futurist, award winning speaker and author of Designing your Future – Key Trends, Challenges and Choices. Fast Future works with government agencies, intergovernmental organisations, global corporations and associations in over 40 countries around the world. Key clients include British Aerospace, GSK, IBM, Intel, Nokia, Pepsi, Shell, the OECD and government departments and agencies in the UK, USA, Finland, Singapore, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. Visit www.fastfuture.com for information.