Technology for Education blog

Higher education’s most popular careers by 2020

Written by Isabel Sagenmüller | 17 de febrero de 2017 15:09:58 Z

With the so-called "Fourth Industrial Revolution" led by information technology and automation, skills and learning outcomes that the labor market expects from college graduates evolved. Not only because of technology, but also an aging population. We will show you the most promising careers for prospective college students. 

What college majors are trending into 2020?

Fortune magazine shows important trends in higher education: business and STEM majors (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) have the most demand, and the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs report shows a similar trend.

We've used several references, like Indeed's comprehensive study of Human Relations, reviewing the top fields and the best degrees for the jobs of the future in the United States. 

1. Computer and information sciences

Majors in computer science, data mining, app development, networking, programming and information security are getting traction. Not just for high tech companies, but all sorts of businesses.

Automation and data analytics have changed the job market, and major industrial processes need data science for production. 

2. Engineering 

Engineers are specializing in a range of industries that are innovating their processes.

Two of them are Biomedical Engineering or Biotechnology, who use their expertise in medical and biological operations, such as pharmaceutics, imaging equipment and medical devices.

Robotics and Nanotechnology have been around for a while, but they’ve leaped from research and into mainstream practice. 

3. Architecture

Automation does not threaten architects. In fact, the World Economic Forum report shows that they’ll continue to have substantial growth in fields such as consumer, information and communication technology. 

The design and development of new, intelligent solutions evolve in buildings and urban planning.

4. Architecture

The job market is not short of international business majors and administrators. But the change will be in the type of specialization these managers are having. 

Some of them are hospitality management and healthcare administration. Also, many companies are hiring geriatric care managers. As the population is aging, the demand of services for senior citizens grows, but so do insurance premiums and the costs of supplies

Managers who specialize in care services are increasingly needed in homes, hospitals and other institutions.

5. Health

There’s one major that is getting attention (other than medicine, of course): NursingWith an aging population, their expertise expands beyond a traditional hospital or nursing home into on-demand services. 

6. Finance

Accounting, finance and economics majors still have a high revenue and employment rates. The degrees of specialization in grad school spread year by year in areas such as sustainable development.

These jobs had a very small risk of becoming obsolete, because they: 

  •   Are at a low risk for automation, because they require human interaction, empathetic and creative qualities.
  • Use transferable skills, as they are dispersed across industries. This helps people find alternative jobs if one industry has a downturn.
  • Are in high demand by employers.
What majors are trending in your college or university? Which ones have changed considerably in the last few years?