Careers of the Future: Ten Growing Fields and What to Study
Which careers are expected to grow between 2025 and 2030?
This guide describes ten careers expected to grow between 2025 and 2030, across technology, finance, healthcare, sustainability and design: what the work involves and which courses lead to it. Use it to explore, not to decide. A growing field is a good choice only for a student whose interests and abilities fit it.
To find out which of these fit you, see career counselling at Global Careers and the Career Fit assessment.
How to read a list like this
Lists of future careers are forecasts, and forecasts are often wrong. Ten years ago few such lists mentioned the work that large numbers of graduates do today. What lasts is a good grounding in a discipline, the ability to learn, and work that suits the person doing it.
So use the ten fields below as a way of exploring, not as a shortlist. A field that is growing is a good choice only for a student whose interests and abilities fit it.
1. Semiconductor engineering
The work: designing, testing and manufacturing the chips inside every electronic device. India is building its own fabrication and design industry.
What to study: electronics or electrical engineering, followed by a specialisation in VLSI or semiconductor technology.
2. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
The work: building systems that learn from data, and applying them in medicine, finance, manufacturing and research.
What to study: computer science, mathematics or statistics. The mathematics matters more than any short course.
3. Cybersecurity
The work: protecting the systems and data of companies and governments, and investigating breaches.
What to study: computer science or information technology, with networks and security as the specialisation.
4. Robotics and automation
The work: designing machines that sense and act, for factories, warehouses, hospitals and farms.
What to study: mechanical, electronics or mechatronics engineering, with programming.
5. Financial technology
The work: building and running digital payments, lending and investment services.
What to study: computer science with finance, or economics or commerce with strong quantitative and programming skills.
6. Investment and financial analysis
The work: valuing companies, managing money and advising on deals.
What to study: economics, commerce or mathematics, often followed by an MBA in finance or the CFA qualification.
7. Biomedical engineering and biotechnology
The work: developing medical devices, diagnostics and new treatments.
What to study: biomedical engineering, biotechnology or the life sciences. Research careers usually need a Master’s or a PhD.
8. Psychology and cognitive science
The work: clinical and counselling work, and research on behaviour used in design, education and public policy.
What to study: psychology or cognitive science. Practising as a psychologist needs a Master’s degree and supervised training.
9. Renewable energy and sustainability
The work: engineering solar, wind and storage systems, and helping organisations measure and reduce their environmental impact.
What to study: mechanical, electrical, chemical or environmental engineering, or environmental science and policy.
10. User experience and product design
The work: deciding how apps, websites and devices should work for the people who use them.
What to study: design, with a portfolio. Psychology or computer science with design is another route.
How to find out which of these fits
Start with the student, not the list. Our Career Fit assessment measures interests, aptitude and work style, Dr. Manish Mittal and his team verify the results in person, and the student then tries the suggested fields through profile building before choosing a course. See career counselling.
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