Where will jobs of the future come from, Kevin Hillier asks
When my computer screen blew up last week it reminded me that we no longer fix anything; we just get a new one. Apart from my car, I can’t remember the last time I actually got anything fixed. So what happened to all the people who used to fix things? What do they do now?
That got me thinking about the jobs that are no longer available. When I started in radio in Longreach there were five full-time announcers. Now, thanks to automation and networking, there’s only one.
My dad ran a service station when I was a teenager and he had three full-time staff, a mechanic, a lube attendant and a driveway attendant, and Dad was full-time as well. Last time I filled my car with petrol there was one bloke running the whole shebang.
So what are the jobs of the future? Retail is becoming more driven by self-service and online shopping. We buy our airline tickets and book hotels on our computers, not through travel agents. Essential services are crying out for more people, but it’s rare these days to hear a little boy say, “I want to be a policeman when I grow up.”
Funnily enough, that’s exactly what my 10-year-old wants, but when he tells people they give a ‘He’ll-grow-out-of-it’ laugh.
When I told my year 10 vocational guidance adviser I wanted to be a radio announcer he giggled, told me to go to uni and get a law or arts degree. Thankfully, in true 15-year-old smart-alec fashion, I ignored him.
Too many job-seekers these days look for a short cut to the top job, rather than working their way up and honing their skills. In media, reality shows are being used by people as an apprenticeship to become radio hosts or television presenters, and sports stars move into the media with varying degrees of success.
But my concern is for the future. Manufacturing is being outsourced overseas, as are marketing, research and sales. I can remember when having a trade was looked down on yet a university degree was top shelf.
It’s a different world now and I’d love to have your thoughts on this and on what jobs your children are considering for their future.
If you have any news or events, let me know at kevin@howdypartnersmedia. com.au
