Are you a parent, a young adult or teenager who is so pessimistic about the future such that the thought of it scares the life out of you. The main cause of pessimism is ignorance. If you could fore tell the future to a large extent then all of a sudden your pessimism changes to optimism because even if you could see the future and there was danger you will start planning on how to avert the danger.

One of the ways to foretell the future is to know the kinds of industries that would emerge because this would in turn affect careers, incomes and most importantly social structures because as you are already aware, the emergence of social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, etc, has completely changed the way we communicate and socialise.

These are the 8 industries I feel would dominate much of the 21st century. So if you are a young adult or a parent who is pessimistic I will urge you to read this post carefully and plan accordingly.

* BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

When most people hear about BLOCKCHAIN, what comes to their minds is mostly cryptocurrency. The blockchain technology is more than just cryptocurrency.

What is blockchain technology? Blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system.

With this simple definition it means that the blockchain technology is going to affect a whole lot of industries ranging from finance, law, energy, tourism and even international relations because once an agreement has been reached between two parties and recorded it would be difficult to alter the details of that agreement

The people who will benefit from this are not just computer nerds but politicians, lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs and businesses.

* ALTERNATE ENERGY

As we all know after the air we breathe the next most important thing to man is ENERGY. We need energy to run our cars, power our homes, run our industries, move goods from one place to another. But as we all are aware the world is warming everyday as a result of climate change that has come from carbon emissions.

This has brought about a need for alternative means of energy that would reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. A lot of alternatives have been suggested from nuclear plants, to windmills, to solar energy and even biofuels. This industry would require a lot of engineers, physicist, biochemist if the above career parts interest you then you should study more about alternate energy.

* CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources especially data storage (cloud storage) and computing power without direct active management by the user. The term is generally used to describe data centres available to many users over the internet. Large clouds, predominant today, often have functions distributed over multiple locations from central servers. If the connection to the user is relatively close, it may be designated an edge server.

Cloud computing services have become so important that it’s now a multibillion dollar industry that have attracted the attention of the likes of Amazon, Microsoft and even google into the space. If you are interested in cyber security, programming, network engineering, this industry is an area you should begin to plan towards.


* BIG DATA ANALYTICS

Big data analytics is the often complex process of examining big data to uncover information — such as hidden patterns, correlations, market trends and customer preferences — that can help organizations make informed business decisions.

On a broad scale, data analytics technologies and techniques give organizations a way to analyze data sets and gather new information. Business intelligence (BI) queries answer basic questions about business operations and performance.

Big data analytics is a form of advanced analytics which involve complex applications with elements such as predictive models, statistical algorithms and what-if analysis powered by analytics systems. This kind of industry would require statisticians, mathematicians, and analyst that like to look at numbers and make meaning out of them. If you are a lover of numbers this industry is for you.

* CYBER SECURITY

Cyber security is the protection of computer systems and networks from information disclosure, theft of or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.

With the emergence of internet of things (IoT) and how our lifes are centered around the internet, it has become imperative that we secure our information from cyber thieves and criminals. If you are interested in a career in cybersecurity then programming, internet forensics and becoming a hacker are areas that you should research more on.

* ROBOTICS/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Robotics is a branch of technology that deals with physical robots. Robots are programmable machines that are usually able to carry out a series of actions autonomously, or semi-autonomously while artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science. It involves developing computer programs to complete tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence. AI algorithms can tackle learning, perception, problem-solving, language-understanding and/or logical reasoning.

AI is used in many ways within the modern world. For example, AI algorithms are used in Google searches, Amazon’s recommendation engine, and GPS route finders. Most AI programs are not used to control robots. Anyone interested in entering this industry must know engineering, software engineering, programming, mathematics etc.

* DIGITISED HOSPITALS

As a digital hospital your doctors, nurses and healthcare team document and access your medical information (such as who you are, reason for admission, medical history and any allergies) on computers instead of using paper files.

New digital bedside patient monitoring devices automatically upload your vital signs and observations, such as your blood pressure, temperature and heart rate, directly to your secure electronic medical record. If you are interested in becoming a medical practitioner of the future you must begin to inculcate some of the skill sets to keep you relevant in the medical industry.

* AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

A number of global trends are influencing food security, poverty, and the overall sustainability of food and agricultural systems.

Future agriculture will use sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems will allow farms to be more profitable, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly. If you want to engage in commercial agriculture a knowledge of the above is a basic prerequisite for engaging in this industry.


The above 8industries I have mentioned are my opinions based on current observable trends. Like the saying goes “If you look at the past you will understand the present and when you understand the present, you can foretell the future”. The only thing constant is change and he who fails to plan, plans to fail.

Technology is here to stay whether we accept it or not. What we can do is to ask ourselves how we can use the current technology to our advantage.

Augustine Obia is an entrepreneur
Writer and director at Linzy educational
Consults a home tutorial based in Lagos,nigeria.
08146390285.