Jobs exist today that were nonexistent a decade ago. An estimate by the World Economic Forum suggests that 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that aren’t yet in existence. And as new jobs are created, old ones are replaced.
What’s the catalyst behind this change? Unsurprisingly, Technology, the unending flow of information, our growing screen dependency, and a desire to do things we’ve always done in new ways are behind this disruption. This pace of change is only going to get faster thanks to rapid advances in the fields of robotics, driverless transport, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced materials and genomics.
Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada - Apply before 31 December 2024 to get as low as 9.99% interest rate
Today, we bring you 7 high-paying careers today that did not exist 10 years ago. While you are here, consider subscribing to After School Africa YouTube for more insightful videos like the one below.
Watch below: 25 Writing Skills You Need to Standout & Succeed in Any Field
Table of Contents
1. App Developer
Mobile apps have taken off in the past few years. The iOS App Store and Google Play Store have brought apps to the forefront of the digital economy. App designers design the creative end of new apps. The developer works with the designers to produce the actual app that you use on your mobile device.
Today there are millions of apps created to meet the diverse needs of smartphone users all over the world. This has ultimately created jobs for people who are trained to develop these applications. Worldwide mobile app revenue was estimated at $101 billion in 2018. Imagine meeting someone at a party ten years ago and introducing yourself as an app developer.
Read also: 7 In-Demand Jobs Most Companies will be Hiring for 2025 & Beyond
2. Social media manager
Social media managers were unheard of a decade ago because most platforms were not the powerhouses that they are today. Instagram didn’t even exist 10 years ago. Today, nearly 75 per cent of adults are on social media. It’s become the default platform for advertising, sales, marketing, brand awareness and nearly all aspects of business.
Businesses now hire professionals whose job description is to manage their social networks: promote blog posts and other content types, and make marketing decisions based on audience interaction and user experience. Social media managers are well-paid. And ten years ago it was unheard of.
3. Uber Drivers
In the past, you had to call a cab, take a commercial bus or in some countries, take a bike to your destination. Now, we have Uber, Bolt, Lyft and several other such services. With an app, private drivers can connect with riders, and make a living as professional private drivers. In my many rides with Uber drivers, more than 80% of them confirm to be earning more than they were from their previous jobs.
4. Big Data Analysts/Data Scientists
Technological advancements have created opportunities for people who can collect, organize and analyze large sets of data to extract valuable insights and make intelligent decisions. Such persons do this by mining and auditing data from large databases. Corporate organizations need insights gleaned from big data to make key decisions. As a result, they are willing to offer high pay to big data analysts and data scientists for their services.
5. Cloud Computing Specialist
A decade ago, if someone said they worked in the cloud, you might have wondered what they were talking about. The term emerged from a 2006 conference where Eric Schmidt, CEO at Google, described Google’s approach to software as ‘cloud computing’. Today, over half of US businesses use cloud services, and cloud management, engineering and strategizing have become high-paying occupations.
Read also: 5 Immigrants Tell us the Types of Jobs You Should Avoid Abroad (USA, UK or Canada)
6. Drone operators
The global market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been growing rapidly, creating job opportunities for drone operators. Most drone operators work as freelance contractors, flying drones for major companies and small businesses. Drones are used for many purposes from gathering thermal images of the ground to producing 3-D models of buildings.
7. Social Media Influencer
There is an increasing number of everyday people generating a large following on social media and building a business off it. A large following increases your social media capital and makes you attractive to big brands that are looking to reach large audiences. Forbes estimates that influencers who have up to 1 million followers can earn up to $150,000 per year. Imagine making all that money because of an Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube account.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are lots of jobs that did not exist if we go further back 15 years ago. Technology is advancing at an even greater pace in recent times. And more new jobs will be created a few years from now. How are you adapting to the changing need in market skills? The interesting thing about these skills is that you don’t need a university degree to develop them. And you can earn a high income and even build a business from them. Start taking advantage of these growing industries by developing the required skills.
And that’s it for now. If you enjoyed this, Subscribe on YouTube. If you are yet to subscribe to our channel, this is likely a good time to do so. Until next time, YOUR SUCCESS MATTERS!
Start With Us
Do you want to study abroad? Note that obtaining a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in this field helps to improve your chances in the labor market. Studying abroad is no joke for international students due to the cost. However, you can achieve your dreams without breaking the bank by applying for student loans, which you can pay for as long as 10 years.
MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require a cosigner or collateral before an application. Reach out to us today, and let’s help you begin the process.
