A recent issue of Newsweek launched a series of special reports on how cutting-edge technologies will transform the way we work and live.
One of the articles discusses the "Jobs of the Future," focusing on the exploding new field of bioinformatics—a combination of high-powered computing and biology that intends to revolutionize the health care industry. These $100,000-a-year jobs are available at bioinformatics start-ups, pharmaceutical and technology companies.
The employees in this field will be instrumental in allowing pharmaceutical companies to cut years off the drug discovery process, and allow doctors to customize medicines based on genetic make-up. One study estimates the industry will need 20,000 workers by 2005.
It’s not yet clear if the tri-County area will have a high demand for such employees, but it’s certain the local health care industry will be affected by their work.
Some of the other career paths mentioned in the article, however, will definitely be in demand. The magazine discusses seven other careers they consider to be hot.
They include:
- Web security specialist—employees who combat computer viruses and systems from hacker attacks.
- Programming artists—employees who are computer programmers, as well as artists that produce high-end graphics popular in Hollywood animation and virtual media. The Labor Department projects a 25 percent increase in demand of commercial artists by 2008.
- Robotic Engineers—engineers who build robots that do everything from assembling machinery to caring for aging parents.
- Tech Teachers—adult-education teachers who educate workers on the skills they need to survive as technology use increases.
- Telematics employees—employees who have telecommunications and computer science skills will be equipping cars with e-capabilities. The predictions noted in the article are that 84 percent of new cars sold in 2005 will be telematic-ready.
- Wireless developers—programmers and architects familiar with the arcane coding of the Internet when it goes wireless. This demand is increasing exponentially.
- Tech support—employees who fix technology problems. Estimates noted in the article show a 222 percent boost in computer support jobs by 2008.
It’s pretty obvious the tri-County area already has a high demand for most of these types of employees already. Such demand will probably continue for some time, slowing economy or not. It underlines the fact that the central Illinois area experiences needs similar to the rest of the country.
Therefore, if you want to get a good barometer of the employment outlook for the nation as a whole, you need not look further than the tri-County area. IBI
