10 Post-pandemic Jobs to Consider: Chat GPT’s opinion with our comments.

Virtually everyone online appears to be playing with Chat GPT to see what it can do. Reportedly, users have given it bar exams, medical board exams, and US Federal Communications Commission radio license exams, and other tests, too. The AI has passed them.

So, why not ask Chat one of our favorite questions—what new jobs will emerge by 2030? Our purpose was to give you more options to think about, rather than to do a line-by-line comparison between Chat’s predictions and our own predictions in the Guide to the Post-pandemic Job Market.

We used the version of Chat GPT that is accessible through the Google Chrome Web Browser. The system also cautioned us it cannot predict the future with certainty.

Chat’s predictions, along with our comments are below.

The top 10 new jobs that could be created, according to Chat

GPT include:

1. Virtual Reality Experience Designer: Workers in this field will design and create immersive virtual reality experiences for a variety of purposes such as entertainment, education, and training.
   • Our comment: While this is plausible, recent press reports suggest that certain virtual reality and augmented reality projects are being scaled back.
2. Artificial Intelligence Ethicist: Workers in this field will research and analyze the ethical implications of artificial intelligence technologies and help develop ethical guidelines for their design, deployment, and use.
   • Our comment: Intuitively, this sounds like a need that will arise in the market although we doubt it will create a great many jobs. But, if you have an advanced degree in ethics or philosophy, it’s an area you may want to consider.
3. Renewable Energy Technician: Workers in this field will install, maintain, and repair renewable energy systems such as solar panels and wind turbines.
   • Our comment: The US Department of Labor (USDOL), per our January 29, 2023 post, considers two jobs in this category—Solar Photovoltaic Installer and Wind Turbine Technician to be among the top 20 fastest growing occupations between now and 2031. These jobs require a high school diploma and technical or on-the-job training. 
4. Quantum Computing Specialist: Workers in this field will develop and implement quantum algorithms, maintain quantum computers, and conduct research on the potential applications of quantum computing.
   • Our comment: A quick Google search indicated that quantum computing is a new paradigm in computer science. It will be “disruptive” in business terms, and may require new software skills. According to the Insider Intelligence blog, IBM expects to market the first commercial quantum computer in 2025.
5. Autonomous Vehicle Operator: Workers in this field will operate and manage fleets of autonomous vehicles, monitoring their performance, and ensuring they comply with regulations and safety standards.
   • Our comment: The Department of Labor continues to put both light and heavy truck drivers on its list of jobs with the largest expected increase in demand, per our January 14, 2023 post. Additionally, per our January 29, 2023 post, USDOL expects taxi driving to be among the top 20 occupations with the most rapid increase in demand between now and 2031. Given some well-publicized incidents and accidents involving the current generation of vehicles with “autopilot” functions, we’re hard-pressed to imagine autonomous vehicle operators taking over the roads anytime soon. Don’t drop out of that Commercial Driver’s License class just yet.
6. Blockchain Developer: Workers in this field will develop decentralized applications and systems using blockchain technology, and help implement solutions that leverage the security and transparency benefits of blockchain.
   • Our comment: Blockchain is the technology behind non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency. Both markets collapsed recently, so (pardon the pun) don’t bank on this field for your next career.
7. Personal Data Manager: Workers in this field will help individuals and organizations manage their personal data, ensuring that it is stored securely, used ethically, and protected from unauthorized access.
   • Our comment: Personal data is not going to disappear from the world’s corporate and government computer systems anytime soon, so it is fair to say someone will have to manage our information’s cybersecurity.
8. Robotics Maintenance Technician: Workers in this field will perform preventative maintenance and repair work on robots and robotic systems, ensuring their reliable and efficient operation.
   • Our comment: Industrial robots have been performing repetitive tasks in factories for a long time, and personal robotic devices such as the Rhumba vacuum cleaner have been on the market for several years. As robots, perhaps driven by quantum computers and AI, become smaller and more sophisticated there could be increased demand for techs to maintain them.
9. Neuromarketing Researcher: Workers in this field will use brain imaging and other neuroscience techniques to understand consumer behavior and inform marketing strategies.
   • Our comment: Given the privacy and cost issues surrounding use of personal medical data, such as brain imaging, there would be significant barriers to use of this technology in market research. Nonetheless, market researcher is one of the occupation that the Department of Labor expects to experience the most job growth between now and 2031.
10. Smart City Manager: Workers in this field will design and implement solutions to improve the functioning and sustainability of cities, leveraging technology and data to make cities more livable, efficient, and resilient.
    • Our comment: If you have lived or spent time in large US cities such as New York, San Francisco, and many others, it’s probably hard to imagine anything “smart” about them. High-end, “smart” homes with built-in automation, including Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology have been around for a while, though, so it’s possible that smart homes will coalesce into smart cities—and someone will have to manage them.

Overall, Chat GPT gave us a general picture of potential new occupations that could emerge in the remainder of this decade. It suggested occupations we had not previously explored, including quantum computing—knowledge that is useful for career changers and students. A limitation, in our view, is that the system did not quantify the data although statistical projections are readily available. The system also did not cite sources. In other words, Chat GPT can be viewed as a starting point—not a comprehensive solution–for jobseekers doing their job market research.