What field would be the most employable in 2020

[StatGuy2000]

Hi everyone!

I have during my time here on PF have posted a number of threads related to employment demand for STEM majors, including the following back in 2017:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/which-stem-field-could-be-the-most-employable-in-2017.898554/

I wanted to take the opportunity to revisit this question for 2020:

(a) Which field(s) (other than computer science or data science) would be the most employable in 2020, based on current trends you have observed?

Please note: I am specifically asking about fields other than computer science or data science (which for the purpose of this discussion include statistics) because the demand for these fields have not changed from past years. What I'm interested in is what other fields are also in demand.

 

[berkeman]

Do you want to limit it to STEM, or include other fields like medical?

 

[StatGuy2000]

Do you want to limit it to STEM, or include other fields like medical?

I'm willing to consider all sectors (including medical) for 2020 (with the exception of computer science and data science/statistics). But since we are on a science forum, I'm most interested in STEM demand.

I'm also looking specifically at employability in the US and Canada (I know that wasn't clear in the original post).

 

[Vanadium 50]

For fun, here's what they were for the year 2000, again looking 20 years out:

1. Computer software engineers, applications
2. Computer support specialists
3. Computer software engineers, systems software
4. Network systems and data communications analysis
5. Desktop publishers
6. Database administrators
7. Personal and home care aides
8. Computer systems analysis
9. Medical assistants
10. Social and human service assistants
11. Physician assistants
12. Medical records and health information technicians
13. Computer and information systems managers
14. Home health aides
15. Occupational health aides
16. Physical therapist assistants
17. Audiologists
18. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
19. Computer and information scientists, research
20. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
21. Occupational therapist assistants
22. Veterinary technologists and technicians
23. Speech-language pathologists
24. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
25. Dental assistants

Some of these predictions were better than others. (Desktop publishers?)

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

I don't know about 2020 but in the year 2100 you'll only need to push one button per day for work.

 

[gleem]

Kiplinger a finance and business news forecasting company projects that engineering of all sorts and occupations related to infrastructure will be in demand for a long time. Medical and related occupations with nursing leading the way for our growing aging population are in great demand. Business related occupations are also still in great demand. Interestingly although you sometimes hear discouraging reports in this forum about jobs in physics being difficult to find Kiplinger notes that in Feb 2019 the annual posting for physics jobs is about 88,000. They note that liberal art degrees with strong research backgrounds are not to be shunned.

https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow...majors-for-a-lucrative-career-2019/index.html

It should be noted that computer related occupations including data analysis are head and shoulders above other occupations as far as demand is concerned with business second and medical coming is third.

 

[jasonRF]

Ask me next year. Then hindsight will be 2020.

 

[symbolipoint]

Do you want to limit it to STEM, or include other fields like medical?

"Medical" is yet also STEM because Medical is a direct offshoot and actually IS Science, and it also involves extremely many parts of Engineering and is very often Technical. (See, STEM)

 

[symbolipoint]

"Other fields" than sciences, technology, engineering, and Mathematics?
Maybe the field does still rely greatly on technology, engineering, and mathematics; but realize how consumer shopping and shipping of so very very vastly many of products have changed in the last few years?

Jobs for companies such as Amazon, or Chewy.com
- consumer shopping, purchases, and shipments of the merchandise itemsediting for sentence clarity mistakes

 

[Dr. Courtney]

High school math and science teachers continue to be in great demand in many areas.

 

[Dr Transport]

My spouse is an ultra-sound tech, specializing in cardiac ultra-sounds and echo-cardiograms. She says there is a huge need for people in that specialty.

 

[f95toli]

Quantum computing.
There are not actually very many job openings (perhaps a few hundred in the US), but the pool of suitable candidates is quite small; meaning people with the right skillset are in VERY high demand. Salaries are going up very quickly .
Most companies both in the US and Europe are really struggling to find good candidates.

 

[Jody]

I feel like a lot of opportunities are opening up for RF/microwave engineers because of 5G.