Technology is involved in most, if not all, of what are regarded as the upcoming careers and tech is seen as the future for most businesses. This has led many to ignore some of the non tech careers that are still especially important for the effective maintenance of society at large. This article examines the top 10 non tech careers that are making big waves in the jobs market. These are the sectors or industries where the rise of machines will not impact or affect the requirement for skilled professionals.
Healthcare
Health and wellbeing have become a much more proactive process with patients taking an increased responsibility and placing more importance on their health. The beauty of the current state of technology is that as an online student you can now access professional training and education in the more practical fields within healthcare. As a sector there is none more so than healthcare where the non-technical careers are currently in demand.
Mental health and wellbeing
Being able to discuss mental health and its importance for overall wellbeing has become normalized. This has been driven by the recent trend of high profiled personalities and sports people openly discussing their mental health challenges. As they are in the public eye it is then quite a public process for them to deal with these challenges; challenges that many have simply been swept under the carpet in times gone by. As mental health becomes a less stereotyped and frowned upon topic of discussion more of the public feel prepared to seek out help. This has necessitated the increase in the number of counsellors and mental health practitioners required.
Furthermore, the immediate need for this type of worker and role has been necessitated by the recent pandemic as isolation soared and associated mental health challenges arose.
Elderly care
Proactive modem healthcare has seen more elderly people living active lives and aiming to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. This has seen the demand for in-home care, care home workers and elderly full time social carers. It’s a career choice that offers flexibility and many Americans have seen this as the perfect way to create an excellent work life balance: taking on care work as and when they are available and arranging such work around family responsibilities and social time. Elderly care work as a whole sector has seen growth in recent times and the mere fact that all of us will at some stage in our lives probably require such care as we age, it is an employment sector for the now and the long-term future.
General nursing
Nursing is regarded as the fastest growing sectors in the USA, where it became the largest employer above retail and manufacturing for the first time in 2018. The moderate estimate is that by 2029, over 225 000 nursing jobs will be created. This is a vast opportunity for all forms of nursing. Yes, there is technology involved, but it is an industry that is predominantly based on the human element, more than any other. It is a researched fact that people would rather be cared for by other people and even the remote, telephonic care systems that were used during the pandemic were for many too cold and it was the human touch that was and will be required.
Social work
The name says it all and the social work arena is one of the fastest growing professions internationally. The main reason is that it is one of the sectors where governments have been able to see and show a clear return on investment if they invested in social services. Research shows that where social workers are present and active there is a positive impact on crime, improved school attendance and better health statistics. It is this acknowledgement of the use of the social worker in our current societal structure and context that has led to a global demand for social workers and those who provide one to one support in communities for those at risk or under mental stress.
Environmental and climate change
Climate change is the one aspect of our world that we can all do something about, no matter how small. It is also a sector that is seeing huge jobs growth as the innovation around solutions for our planet soar.
Renewable energy
Understanding where and how to harness green energy is going to be one of the most sought-after skills for the future of modern business. It’s about the innovation and thought processes required to power the sector and as such will need to be driven and directed by human beings.
Environmental impact assessment
Being able to assess the impact of planned human living and business expansion in advance and begin to avoid irreparable damage to green belts and environmentally sensitive area is now seen as a key responsibility for all businesses. The tech exists to compute the result, or provide a score, but the information required must be gathered from stakeholders and observations on site.
Disaster management
Climate change is a reality and the resultant extreme weather events have simply skyrocketed across the globe. The ability to both plans ahead and begin to make sustained changes in the way society builds, where we live and how we respond to extreme weather is more important that it has ever been. The frequency of extreme weather has begun to cause long-term societal change, and this will require a plethora of professionals to respond accordingly.
Both emergency workers and responders as well as planners, lobbyists and the building industry at large will be required on an ongoing basis as the crisis intensifies.
Climate change is a global crisis and as such the sector is booming in terms of opportunity.
Indeed, technology is at the heart of most current economic development and future growth; however, there are still those jobs and careers that are available and actually emerging as strong contenders for the most sustainable career choices that there are.
Finance
Yes, crypto currency mining and e-money has been big news, but the truth of the matter and the bottom-line is that people and businesses with money need to put a face to the person that the place their trust and money with. It’s a natural feeling and is maintained even today in an age where AI and machine learning could quite easily make your business and personal investment decisions.
Investment analysts and advisors
The ability to see and sell possible investment options is a sell that, although based on the analysis of big financial data, is and will be done by a professional worker. Being able to read and make sense of the stats and then present these in a manner that investors and stakeholders alike can understand and buy into is key. Furthermore, on a personal level the need for personal or family financial planners has never been more apparent as many feel the uncertainty of the economic climate and look to secure their financial futures or at least make sense of them.
New business development
Being able to master the current technological advancements requires entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thought. This is arguably a bridge too far for AI and advanced machine learning to do on its own and it must be guided. The tech may make the businesses possible but developing human led solutions to human problems is a sector and role where there is vast opportunity for those who are adequately trained and qualified. Being able to think creatively, or as if there was no box, is one of the only ways that new business is going to be developed and this is definitely a non-tech driven process.
Social enterprise
Giving capitalism and business as a whole a new face and developing viable business solutions with the intention to deal with and solve societal problems is the new future of business. This is arguably one of the most important developmental aspects of current human endeavor. The idea of economic equity and equality that may very well be driven by business is a possibility in this lifetime and a human non tech process.
The finance sector has a number of people driven roles, and although the requirements are to have tech know-how and the ability to use the latest big data analysis, it is in the thinking process. The decision making as to where funds should be invested or spent and then being able to monitor and track are all given to people and generally preferred to be done ‘face to face’. Modern business may be driven by tech, but this must be directed by a humanist prerogative and need.
Wrap up
These sectors are currently showing growth in jobs and there is not yet any sign that these jobs can yet be performed any better by machines. These non-tech roles will and are essential opportunities for developing the human potential. For too long in the recent past, the focus has been on the technological advancements and the careers and jobs that tech has made possible. Perhaps it is also time to recognize and acknowledge the non tech human opportunities and roles.