Jobseekers often look to roles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as safe bets.
Under almost every 10-year scenario modelled by labour economists, they are correct to do so. Projections from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, released in September, show an 11 per cent rise in so-called “Stem” employment, to 11.5mn, by 2032, while the number of non-Stem jobs will increase by just 2 per cent.
These will not necessarily be the jobs of science fiction. Many roles created from developments in technology will be augmented versions of those that already exist, or new roles serving age-old needs in areas such as healthcare, basic infrastructure, or public services.