In a world where algorithm, mechanization and technology are slowly taking over all the routine human jobs of yesteryear, will there be jobs for humans in the future and if so what might they be was the starting point for this weeks round of on air interviews.

We took a look at the jobs that will soon be the domain of technology including tax clerks, library technicians, loan officers, postal clerks, retail sales assistant, technical writers, accountants to name but a few.

This list is not a mandated one, there may still be people involved in doing the tasks, but just as stenographers, typist and elevator operators of the past it will not require someone full-time to do them, but rather it may be just one task, amongst many others, someone does in the completion of their daily work.

Some of tomorrow’s new jobs will include big data scientists (all the rage at the moment), robotics engineers (we can’t get enough of them), augmented reality travel agents (providing digital rather than physical holidays), transhumanist designers (an HR function that decides whether a task is best done by human, tech or both and then manages the process), genome specialist and retirement counsellors.

It’s a fascinating and important discussion, what do we tell our kids, how do we prepare them for the world of 6 careers and 14 jobs and working into their 90’s in industries and professions that today we know nothing about. How do we transition our businesses and thinking to take best advantage of what’s ahead and how do we retrain those in jobs and industries that are likely to disappear?

There will be work for humans in the future, it will be in the wisdom, service and human contact fields, but what can we do today to get ready for tomorrow?

Have a listen to these segments for different insights and approaches to this vexing question.

ABC Wide Bay – David Dowsett – 30 November 2015 – (9 minutes 22 seconds)

ABC Far North – Phil Staley – 30 November 2015 – (18 minutes 22 seconds)

AusStereo WA – Anthony Tillie – 30 November 2015 – (4 minutes 01 seconds)