It is no secret that the internet changed society and how the world operates. The significance is vast as jobs that did not exist a decade ago are replacing traditional industries. These new companies are dominating the market. For example, more than a decade ago, the sharing economy that includes businesses like Uber and Airbnb did not exist. Today, these organizations lead a concept that is obligating governments worldwide to adjust laws that accommodate a new way for individuals to produce an income. Furthermore, the idea of knowledge workers is no longer foreign. Companies are adapting their business models to allow employees to work partially or fully away from central offices and embrace the initiative of using communication technology to lower their cost structure.
Not all industries will disappear with technology, and certain sectors will still be critical to the economy. For instance, lawyers, mortgage services, and real estate agents will always be in demand. The style of marketing and the type of work may change, but the services are continually needed. Furthermore, the interconnectivity of the world and the access to knowledge and information creates industries and new possibilities. For example, the cannabis sector is resurging, caused primarily by a global movement to legalize the drug and access to new research studies showing benefits. Other ideas such as clean and renewable energy are also creating a different type of job. As the world continues to shift, traditional career paths can adapt and welcome the change instead of denying its existence. Here are some of the top careers in these changing times.
Service-Based Careers
Certain careers will always require human interaction and touch. Sure, the style of exchange may change or may be enhanced by technology; however, a human will still perform the service. Take, for example, the real estate industry. Technology has undoubtedly modified how people look for, compare, review, and purchase property. Nevertheless, home buyers will still visit and perform a walk-through of the properties and interact with agents. This means that there is an interchange between technology and human contact where their intersection can increase the experience of all parties involved. Service-based careers should use technology to support their goals. If done properly, those that implement the innovations will have an increased competitive advantage over others.
So, what type of jobs will be in high demand during an era of connectivity and information? The answer is, anything that creates, analyzes, and disseminates knowledge and is supported by experts performing services. Meaning, do not be afraid of the service sector. Instead, look to leverage the power of technology. For example, bankruptcy attorneys can use the internet to provide a vast array of information that can help those in need. Such help will set the lawyers as knowledge experts and increase their desirability in an area that can be highly competitive. Nevertheless, the exchange of knowledge and the dissemination of information that helps potential clients make educated decisions will set the firm apart, thus creating a competitive advantage.
Furthermore, these industries will be looking for individuals that can help raise a company’s visibility online. Such visibility involves new technologies and strategies that differ from the traditional marketing concepts taught in the past. These encompass the use of social media, search engines, and content development that extends the reach and style of any organization operating in these new mediums. Therefore, service-based companies will expand outside of their area of expertise and look for people who can add value to the company and their services. This can include outsourced and in-house work. Knowledge workers that can provide data, content, analysis, and marketing strategies, among other advantages, will always be in high demand.
Clean and Alternative Energy
The Information-driven era does not just influence the type of jobs that people can look for and perform. Knowledge also extends and shapes perception about everything that humans are aware of. This can lead to the development of new industries. One such example is the raised awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels and the possibility of climate change caused by greenhouse gasses. The mindfulness of the harm to the environment is leading innovators to look for alternative forms of energy that are clean and renewable. This idea has created companies looking to use the sun and wind to generate electricity and biodiesel, among many other fuel sources, to power vehicles and other machinery. Governments around the world are investing countless resources in improving sources of energy and taking a more environmentally responsible stance on how such resources impact the quality of air and the creation of carbon dioxide. This creates new job opportunities in the energy sector.
One such example is SeQuential biodiesel, which is a cleaner alternative to petroleum diesel. The fuel is non-toxic and has an 85 percent smaller carbon footprint, thus being a responsible option. The process is similar to other environmentally-friendly processes that begin with recycling and reusing materials. In the case of biodiesel, oil, fats, and grease from different places like restaurants, stadiums, and others are collected and transported to a plant where they are refined and then distributed to be used as fuel. The byproduct of the process is also reused in other industries. These types of creative ideas that give products a second life are not only beneficial to the environment, but will also produce new types of jobs in different sectors. Many individuals are starting up companies that focus on the collection, recycling, and reselling of these products and byproducts.
Cannabis Revolution
The world has witnessed a revolution that involves the marijuana plant. The public sentiment around cannabis has been evolving, and this is placing pressure on governments worldwide to adapt their stance. Several countries have legalized its medical and recreational use. Much of the change involves new research around the beneficial properties of the plant in the treatment of certain diseases and medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, HIV, muscle spasms, and cancer, among many others. In the United States, 30 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Some states, including Washington, Nevada, Colorado, California, Alaska, and others have also legalized the recreational use of cannabis. The effect of this legalization wave is the development of a cannabis industry that is worth billions of dollars.
The enacted state-level laws, public sentiment, and access to the drug is creating a wide range of industries and job opportunities. The sector is seeing everything from chefs experts in the creation of cannabis-infused recipes to cannabis insurance specialists. Entrepreneurs are investing in developing dispensaries, smoke shops, edibles, and other types of businesses around the concept of marijuana. However, this is not the only effect. The growing interest in the plant is also impacting the medical and research community, where private organizations, medical institutions, and government are investing capital in investigating the drug, its effects, and potential undiscovered properties. Because of the previous contention and legal status, the industry is a great new opportunity that will continue to grow as world governments modify their laws. Therefore, individuals interested in the cannabis industry can expect job growth and prosperity in all areas of business including research and development, medicine, retail, and law, among others.