The hottest jobs 5 years from now? The answers will surprise you

Where do you see yourself in ﬁve years?” Once a common interview question, it is, increasingly, a meaningless one — such is the speed of technological change. Most stafﬁng specialists and headhunters say it’s almost impossible to predict what the job market would look like in ﬁve years. TOI spoke to experts across sectors to get a ﬁx on what this churn might throw up, in terms of the most valuable entry-level white-collar skillsets in the near future. All answers were deeply caveated. “What is relevant today can become irrelevant in 12 months, sometimes even sooner. It is difﬁcult to plot anything beyond a two-year time frame,” says Rituparna Chakraborty, co-founder, Teamlease Services. Most new jobs will replace more than one old job, she points out. Most experts reckon that along with AI and automation, climate change-related expertise, space tech, and bioengineering will redeﬁne the entry-level job market over the next ﬁve years. Abhijit Bhaduri, who worked as a GM in Microsoft, predicts that “India will be a key talent pool for AI, ML, and data science in the world”. He says that by 2027, AI-ML adoption will become the norm and, by 2030, quantum computing adoption will be mainstream. Here, then, is the list of likely hottest jobs in the next ﬁve years. Many of these jobs don’t exist now, some will be radically new avatars of existing jobs, but all will require higher skill levels than those required for today’s most sought-after jobs. TOI spoke to experts across sectors to get a sense of the coming jobs revolution. Just over 1% of the US population is engaged in farming. How does it manage 1.2 billion acres — roughly thrice the agricultural land in India? The answer is technology. From giant harvesters — which are last century’s innovation — to drones, AI and machine learning, US farming is at the cutting edge of hi-tech. And Tauseef Khan, co-founder of ag-tech startup Gramophone, says change has arrived in India, too, driven by the need for sustainable and efﬁcient farming. For example, AI and IoT (internet of things) devices provide better access to markets, ﬁnancing and resources to smallholder farmers.Future hot jobs■ Agri-data analysts to interpret farm data, improve crop yield and supply-chain efﬁciency■ Field technicians to manage and maintain IoT devices, sensors and other hardware■Supply chain coordinators to streamline farm-to-market logistics and reduce food waste■ AI/ML specialists to develop predictive models for crop management, pest control and yield optimisation■ Sustainability ofﬁcers to implement eco-friendly farming practices and reduce environmental impact■ Agri-ﬁntech advisers to provide ﬁnancial solutions, such as farm loans and insurance, to smallholder farmersSkills needed■ Proﬁciency in data analysis, AI/ ML, IoT, and drone operation■ Understanding of farming practices, challenges, and supply-chain dynamics■ Skills in marketing, ﬁnance, and supply-chain management In January this year, Bengaluru-based startup Pixxel launched India’s ﬁrst private constellation of Earth-imaging satellites. Rashmit Singh Sukhmani, CTO of space-tech startup SatSure, says thanks to the proliferation of commercial satellites and cubesats, India’s Earth observation (EO) sector is transforming rapidly. The volume of EO data is exploding, and govts, humanitarian agencies and corporations are tapping into it for real-time insights into climate change, agriculture, infrastructure, and disaster management.Future hot jobs■ Remote-sensing data analysts, junior AI/ML engineers with EO specialisation, geospatial data scientists, and cloud engineers for EO platforms■ Mission operations associates and other operational roles, particularly for small satellite constellations■ Applied AI researchers, particularly those working on foundation models for EO data, synthetic data engineers, Edge-AI developers, and autonomous data pipeline engineers■ New-age roles like geospatial product managers and climate-AI analystsSkills needed■ Fluency in Python and geospatial libraries like Rasterio and GDAL■ Hands-on experience with satellite data formats (Sentinel, Landsat), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP), and basic ML frameworks■Familiarity with tools like Google Earth Engine and QGIS WHO declared Covid a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and US FDA approved the ﬁrst vaccine for it exactly nine months later, on Dec 11. This wouldn’t have been possible without the use of advanced computing in the pharma sector. Yashwant Mahadik, president, global human resources at pharma major Lupin, says AI and machine learning are driving the shift towards data-driven decision-making at every stage of the drug development process. As a global pharmaceutical hub, India has attracted companies to expand research, manufacturing, and export, creating openings for highly skilled talent.Future hot jobs■ Data science and analytics experts, particularly those skilled in AI and ML applications■ Blend of specialised technical expertise, digital proﬁciency and adaptable soft skills■ Strong understanding of regulatory affairs, particularly in the context of digital health and personalised medicineSkills needed■ Data science and analytics (statistical modelling, machine learning, data visualisation)■ Bioinformatics and genomics (genomic data analysis, bioinformatics tools)■ Pharmaceutical sciences (drug discovery, regulatory affairs, manufacturing)■ Digital literacy, including expertise in digital marketing, data privacy, and cloud computing Just last month, humanoid robots ran a half-marathon in China while Tesla has plans to introduce its Optimus line of shop-ﬂoor robots this year. Supratik Bhattacharya, chief talent ofﬁcer at RPG Group, says the manufacturing sector is set for a digital transformation with manufacturers adopting AI, IoT, and robotics to enhance efﬁciency. Investment in automated production lines, predictive maintenance and real-time data monitoring will increase. Ensuring defect-free production will be crucial, as will cost and waste reduction.Future hot jobs■ Engineers and technicians skilled in industrial automation, robotics and smart manufacturing■ Supply-chain data analysts, demand planners, predictive analytics specialists, supply-chain strategists, AI/ML model developers■ Renewable energy systems engineers, sustainability/environmental engineers■ Waste management and recycling specialists, energy efﬁciency analystsSkills needed■ AI, robotics, IoT and industrial IoT, industrial control systems, SCADA, cloud computing■ Domain expertise, data analytics & visualisation, ability to train and deploy AI models Banks, like other customer-facing organisations, need a wow factor, and personalised services matter more than ever now. So, the sector will require product managers to craft these, says Rajkamal Vempati, HR head at Axis Bank.Future hot jobs■ Data engineers to manage mounds of data■ Governance professionals for proper governance structures■ Cyber risk professionals/ product managersSkills needed■ Domain knowledge in regulations, technology, data, design thinking, etc.■ Collaborating with others and creative problem-solving Open AI CEO Sam Altman says AI writes over 50% of code in some organisations; Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu believes 90% of repetitive coding tasks will be handled by AI soon. That’s a dramatic shift in an industry founded on an army of coders. Richard Lobo, chief people ofﬁcer at Tech Mahindra, says AI is transforming skill demands and operational landscapes. But he’s hopeful that AI will lead to the creation of new jobs and skill sets as its impact is felt across sectors and industries. Staff will survive the change if they are ﬂexible, innovative and resilient.Future hot jobs■ Chief AI ofﬁcer, data ethics specialist, algorithmic accountability manager, AI-powered cybersecurity expert, digital marketing specialist, machine learning engineerSkills needed■ Ability to combine technical expertise with industry knowledge Chinese electric-vehicle maker BYD employs around 110,000 technology and R&D staff, which makes it the largest R&D organisation in the auto industry. That’s not surprising because everything from EV batteries to drivetrains and infotainment systems needs constant improvement. As India pushes for green mobility, roles tied to EV technologies will see growing demand, says Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. He says the next ﬁve years will see a major transformation, driven by the rise of software-deﬁned vehicles, autonomous technologies and smart mobility solutions.Future hot jobs■ Software development, data analytics, vehicle design■ Expertise in electric propulsion systems, battery technology, and vehicle connectivity■ Cybersecurity expertise for connected vehiclesSkills needed■ Proﬁciency in AI, machine learning, data analytics, and IoT What’s AI got to do with jams and jellies, soaps and detergents? Turns out, a lot. American MNC Kraft Heinz, for instance, uses AI vision to make sure the cucumbers it uses to make pickles have the right density, length and thickness. And this has increased its production efﬁciency by 12%. Vaibhav Ram, global HR head at Godrej Consumer Products Ltd, says the FMCG sector overall is seeing investments in automation, robotics, and IoT, besides e-commerce channels. In fact, the e-commerce channel in FMCG is projected to grow 3-4 times faster than general trade.Future hot jobs■ Channel assortment management, channel management, key account managementSkills needed■ Data science, digital transformation and process automation, sustainable and automated manufacturing, and key account management It’s not just taxi apps that change rates depending on what phone you use; when you shop online, your recommendations and prices are decided by your proﬁle. But buyers want more of these personalised shopping recommendations, faster delivery and secure transactions, so AI interventions and data-led decision-making have become integral to e-commerce. Prajakta Kanaglekar, VP-HR with Flipkart, says this is creating opportunities for professionals who can build resilient digital ecosystems, drive automation and enhance security in an increasingly digital-ﬁrst environment.Future hot jobs■ Entry-level roles in AI intervention and data-led decision-making■ Digital ecosystem architects, automation and digital security expertsSkills needed■ Understanding AI-driven marketing tools, chatbots and automation platforms■ Strong analytical skills to interpret customer data and create hyper-personalised shopping experiences through predictive analytics■ Expertise in integrating multiple sales channels (social media and direct-to-consumer websites) for customer engagement and conversionsIllustration: Uday Deb