The Hottest Jobs in 2020

Disruptive technologies, climate change, robotics, natural resource constraints, renewable energy, the sharing economy, cloud computing, big data, and an aging population: these are just some of the forces shaping how people work today and the careers of the future.

If you are just starting your career journey, that means exciting prospects across many emerging industries, with entrepreneurship, connectivity, and a human touch expected to become important parts of the career mix of the future.

Here is what experts predict the workplace will look like in 2020.

Cyberwarfare will become the new terror threat

The cost of cyberattacks in Australia alone is estimated to exceed A$1 billion a year, and cybersecurity experts are in high demand around the world.

Demand far outstrips supply across a wide range of industries, including technology, entertainment, telecommunications, banking, finance, and accounting. That means cybersecurity qualifications open the door to a broad range of interesting and rewarding careers. As technology becomes more ubiquitous, think medical implants, electronic vehicle controls, and smart buildings, the potential to build an exciting career in this field is enormous.

A handful of forward-thinking universities are already preparing the next generation of cybersecurity experts. For example, Macquarie University recently launched the A$10 million Optus Macquarie University Cyber Security Hub, which gives students pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications all the knowledge they need to create an effective cybersecurity environment for business, private, and industrial applications.

At the same time, demand for ICT professionals will rise by 26.5% by 2020. Build an innovative future by studying for a Bachelor of Information Technology and a Master of Information Technology.

Listings for math-related jobs will flood job boards

Demand for accounting and finance professionals has already risen by 44%, and by 2020 it will grow by another 22%. Meet that demand with a Bachelor of Leadership and Business and a Master of Accounting.

Meanwhile, demand for actuaries, mathematicians, and statisticians will rise by nearly 10% by 2020. Gain the quantitative and qualitative skills you need, and learn to speak the language of business, by pursuing a Bachelor of Business Analysis or Science, or a Master of Actuarial Practice.

An aging population means huge demand for health professionals

By 2020, the need for health and community services professionals will rise by 40%. Join this industry by studying a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) or becoming a Doctor of Physiotherapy.

By 2020, demand for medical scientists will rise by 21.5%. Change lives by studying a Bachelor of Clinical Science and a Master of Public Health.

Demand for creative, media, and marketing professionals will grow

By 2020, the need for advertising and marketing professionals will rise by 15%. Make your mark with a Bachelor of Arts or Media, or a Master of Business with a marketing specialisation.

By 2020, the need for performing arts technicians will rise by 16%. Build a culture-focused career with a Bachelor of Media Studies or a Master of Creative Industries.

The world will still need engineers, lawyers, and teachers, who would have thought?

By 2020, the need for telecommunications specialists will rise by 22%. Build a better future with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or a Master of Engineering.

Lawyers will be needed by 17.6% more in 2020. Lay the foundation for your future with a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws.

By 2020, demand for all education professionals will continue to outpace other professions. Demand for early childhood specialists will rise by 27%, and demand for special education teachers will rise by 21%. Change children’s futures with a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Early Childhood Education.

Prepare for the future.

Macquarie University offers students a diverse range of enriching experiences that broaden their minds and open them up to new people and ideas. But they do more than send our students into the unknown. They are there to nurture and support you so you can get the best out of everything you try. Whether through their overseas study and international exchange programs or their global leadership programs, you will not be the same person when you leave.

Macquarie’s unique PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) program also gives you practical experience while you study and can help open the door to an exciting career. Their Global Leadership Program (GLP) is regarded as Australia’s flagship global leadership program in higher education, and received the prestigious International Award for Innovation in International Education - Campus Internationalization from the Institute of International Education in 2017. In addition, their Student Exchange Program gives you the opportunity to study overseas for several weeks, a full semester, or even a year at more than 150 partner universities in over 40 countries.