How to select jobs in demand in the future

When starting a career, changing jobs, or even just planning for the future, one of the main questions which needs to be asked is, will my source of income still be viable in the future? Below are some of the most in demand jobs and some things to consider when deciding if a particular career will remain strong in the future.

Current jobs in demand

Sales/marketing/customer service All related fields, these areas are always hot jobs regardless of the economy. It is simply because people always have needs and, therefore, there is always a place for people to advertise, sell, and support the products which fill those needs and add to it the natural ability of sales people to sell themselves to potential employers. Besides, it translates to a fair amount of job security. Information technology and related fields We live in a technologically driven world. This becomes more true with every passing year, and because of this, the need for qualified people in IT and related industries is constantly growing. This may be the most secure job sector for the foreseeable future. Engineering People who understand how to improve processes and adapt new technology save companies money and help direct them into the future. Obviously, this is a niche which always has value. Administration/finance No matter what a company builds, sells, or provides, there is always a need for people to administer it. Whether connecting products with vendors, balancing the budget, or hiring and training employees, these are the jobs which keep everything running.

Things to consider

So, how can you tell if a job will remain in high demand in the future?
The main things to consider are: 1. Will there continue to be a need for the service? Jobs such as skilled trades will always be in demand. People need shelter. This shelter needs to be built and maintained. This is also true of medical, mining, oil drilling, agriculture, etc. 2. Will technology make the job obsolete? Industries such as printing have suffered greatly with the advent of the Internet. Being able to get free, instant information from the comfort of our own homes has greatly reduced the market for newspapers and magazines. 3. Can the job be done at lower cost in a developing country? Witness the Rust Belt of the United States. If it is more cost-effective to manufacture a product somewhere else and ship it to the developed world for sale, companies will do so. It is, after all, business. Call centers have suffered a similar migration. Final thought Obviously, no one can predict the future. However, with a little forethought and flexibility, we can be prepared for it.