What are jobs that will disappear?

Are you trembling to know that there jobs that will disappear in not-too-distant future?

Forbes.com has an article on jobs that could disappear in the future. Though it’s mainly affecting the low wage jobs, it’s a bit hard to imagine construction worker and union organizer vanishing soon. But jobs such as film processor, encyclopedia writer and grocery cashier are possible due to developed technology. If we can queue to pay our parking tickets through an automated machine, scanning our groceries and then pay the machine should not pose a problem at all. And when Wikipedia emerged, who still wants to read Britannica (in print)?

So, what are some jobs that are at risk due to automation and technology advances?

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Some job hunting tips never grew out-of-date. You probably knew some of them by heart. For example, doing research about the company before an interview, donning the right attire and having a firm hand shake are just a few of the common and well-known tips.

To read more… 12 Practical Tips To Ace The Job Interview

But as technology advances with most people having an online profile nowadays (which was unheard off not many years ago), the landscape of job search had taken a new twist.

Are you leveraging on social networks?

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I enjoy reading quotes especially those that inspire and ignite a positive energy. Two good ones about work that I can recall are:

Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life – Harvey MacKay

It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts, it’s the work you put in the hours – Sam Ewing

And this is rather long but it has so much of truth in it that I felt compelled to share it here.

Life is about passion and purpose. Very few people take the time to define what it is they really want; what they would pursue at all costs regardless of adversities, barriers, and obstacles that might (and will) stand in their way. The miracle of life is discovering what miracles you want to manifest. And when you identify just one or two of them (throughout your life), and unconditionally commit to them… you will achieve them! – Jay Block

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Economic Transformation Progamme (ETP) is an initiative by the Malaysia government to drive the economy. The CEO of ETP is Datuk Seri Idris Jala and he expected ETP to generate more than 3.3 million jobs over the next 10 years, with more than 60% of which would be in the medium-income or high-income salary brackets. The objective is to increase the GNI per capita from RM23700 to RM48000, in line with the World Bank’s high-income benchmark.

What constitutes the 3.3 million jobs is not immediately known but from what we understand at this juncture, 131 projects were identified and they includes the building of new rail lines and a high-speed rail system to connect Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit among others that come under the umbrella of “mega infrastructure projects”.

Since the immediate beneficiary is the construction industry, it is therefore not presumptuous to say that at least one group of profession will greatly be in demand for the next ten years – Engineering!

Jobs in Demand – Engineers

As of now, it’s already predicted that Malaysians are unable to meet the demand as we lack high skilled workers and it has been projected at least 46% of these jobs require vocational and technical skills.

So, what’s the solution?

We might fill up the openings with expatriates that can come across as a short term solution. But it won’t be if our objective is to be a country of choice for global talent.

Secondly, it comes in the form of Talent Corporation, which has been given the mandate to lure Malaysian diaspora across the world to return to their home land to work. Some quarters doubted the effectiveness of such move but like any idea or program, time will tell before stones are hurled.

Thirdly, the tertiary institutes have a critical role to play by aligning their curriculum or courses with what is in demand. It takes time to train and the sooner things get aligned, the better it is.

Fourthly, the current workforce should positively embrace this as opportunity for career advancement. If we do not have the higher skills required, are we ready to upgrade ourselves to fill the gap? Those that are willing to pay the price will reap their rewards.

Malaysian workforce is living in interesting times. As a Malaysian, I applaud the government for taking such an initiative. We have the plan on paper. Now, it’s time for a good execution.