Navigating the AI revolution: what are the tech careers of tomorrow?

For National Careers Week, we explore what the tech careers of the future might look like in the age of AI.

Rapid developments in technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping the world of work. The types of jobs comprising the labour market are evolving and many of the jobs of the future are yet to be invented. But in the midst of National Careers Week, what does that mean for the careers of the future? This article explores just some of the tech jobs that might characterise the future of work.

Making AI work for Britain

The future of work will be AI-enabled. Whilst discussions around the impact of AI on work often focus on machines replacing humans, the reality is that humans will increasingly work alongside machines and AI in the future workplace. In this report, techUK explores the impact of AI on work and the workforce, spotlighting nine actions for the UK government to support businesses and workers to take advantage of AI in the workplace.

Read here

Jobs that are enabled by AI

In an increasingly AI-enabled world, those people with the skills and expertise required to drive AI innovations will be invaluable. According to the World Economic Forum, over the coming years AI and machine learning (ML) specialist roles are set to grow by 40%, whilst the role of data specialists is expected to grow too with a 30-35% increase in demand for data analysts, scientists and big data specialists. These professionals will be equipped to develop AI and ML solutions, analyse and interpret data, and bridge the gap between technology and business.

But commercialising AI and driving its adoption across sectors will require multi-skilled teams, well-versed in enabling and complementary technologies. That includes data centres engineers, building and maintaining the digital infrastructure needed to deploy AI, the cloud experts and engineers building accessible tools and providing access to computing power, the cybersecurity professionals ensuring that these AI systems are secure as they proliferate, and digital transformation experts driving these innovations within organisations.

Jobs that will be enabled by AI

As AI matures, it will develop alongside other emerging technologies and increasingly change jobs across almost every sector. In many, it will be a key technology to power more effective and productive work, underpinning new innovations and converging with other technologies to deliver impact. The ability to work with, on or alongside emerging technologies like advanced AI, and handle data, will therefore be critical for a growing number of jobs.

Take Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), collectively known as ‘immersive technologies’ . Data from Experis ManpowerGroup found that over half of UK employers expect immersive technologies will lead to them employing more staff, including developers and designers who can create 3D models and environments. Immersive technologies begun transforming training and learning, providing more engaging experiences, and their symbiosis with AI could provide new powerful applications and subsequent job opportunities. This could be by using AI to better understand users’ surroundings, provide adaptive and personalised content, or power complex simulations, in sectors as diverse as education, tourism, healthcare or gaming.

Or the case of autonomous vehicles and robotics, where AI algorithms and the internet of things are helping to process vast amounts of data from a web of connected sensors to make real-time decisions. Building and maintaining these innovations are likely to create jobs in engineering and technical roles across a number of sectors. At the same time, some of these opportunities could combine with work to create smart cities and spawn a growing number of roles in planning and IT management.

Smart cities hold great promise for the net zero transition, with expected changes in the labour market too. AI is already assisting the collection and analysis of critical data on things like emissions, operational function, and energy supply and demand. Estimates put the number of potential net new jobs as between 135,000 and 725,000, and the net zero economy grew by 9% in 2023. This transition will entail not only ‘greening’ existing jobs like software development or manufacturing, but also creating new jobs focused on things like renewable energy, electric batteries and vehicles, and the circular economy.

And in healthcare new technologies like AI will increasingly help medical professionals diagnose illnesses, monitor patients and track their care. In an AI future, personal care facilitated by healthcare staff will be hard to replace, but it will be augmented. We could therefore see the emergence of AI nurses, equipped with the AI, data and soft skills that enable this technology and its insights to provide more effective care.

The future of technology careers

Developments in AI, and other emerging technologies like AR and VR, will underpin many of the careers of the future – whether in traditionally digital roles or not – and this article has explored but a few. We will see existing roles become AI-enabled, whilst entirely new jobs will be created, and nascent sectors such as emerging space technologies will mature too.

Digital skills are already key for most workers, but their importance will only grow in an AI-enabled future. So, if you’re thinking about your future career, then you should probably be thinking about tech too.

If you're interested in discussing techUK's Future of Work activity, please get in touch:

Jake Wall

Policy Manager, Skills and Future of Work, techUK

Jake has been the Policy Manager for Skills and Future of Work since May 2022, supporting techUK's work to empower the UK to skill, attract and retain the brightest global talent, and prepare for the digital transformations of the future workplace.

Previously, Jake was the Programme Assistant for Policy. He joined techUK in March 2019 and has also worked across the EU Exit, International Trade, and Cloud, Data Analytics and AI programmes.

He also holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Sussex, as well as a BA(Hons) in International Politics from Aberystwyth University. During his time at Aberystwyth University, he won the International Politics Dissertation Prize.

Email:: [email protected]
Twitter:: @jww_tech,@jww_tech
Website:: www.techuk.org,https://www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwwuk,https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwwuk

Read lessmore

Future of Work

The future of work is changing. Technology is powering a growth in flexible work across the economy, whilst emerging technologies such as robotics and AI are set to become common place. techUK believes the UK must consider the implications of digital transformation in the world of work now, equipping people and businesses across the country with the skills and conditions needed to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the 4IR.

Learn more

techUK - Putting AI into Action

Our Putting AI into Action campaign serves as a one stop shop for showcasing the opportunities and benefits of AI adoption across four strategic sectors - Health and Social Care, Cyber, Central Government and Transport.

techUK is coordinating a calendar of events, reports, and insights to demonstrate some of the most significant opportunities for AI adoption in 2024, as well as working with key stakeholders to identify and address current barriers to adoption.

Visit our AI Adoption Hub to learn more, or find our latest activity below.

Upcoming AI Adoption events

Latest news and insights

28 Jun 2024

The techUK podcast - Digital ethics spotlight with insights from KPMG

As a follow-up to techUK's flagship Digital Ethics Summit, we are pleased to deliver a series of podcasts that dive deeper into the conversations started at the 2023 Digital Ethics Summit and will continue at the 2024 event.

techUK podcasts