I asked this question on another thread BUT warrants it's own thread

[serryjw]

IF you had a 16 year old, what would you suggest they study considering our global economy, Peak Oil and the outsourcing of so many high paying jobs?
A doctor,lawyer, Indian Chief does not seem to be a safe bet for the next 50 years.College Professors will not be tenured in the future & dentists will work in clinics. I have a better idea of what to learn than what degree to get. I would learn a bunch of languages,take classes in global business and marketing and learn about other cultures..BUT what degree do you get?

We very well may see a return to trade schools. No one can call a plumber in India!

[Nite Owl]

1. That's what I was going to say

learn a trade. Everyone will need a mechanic, a plumber, an electrician. My oldest son is 23 and is almost done with his degree in accounting but is learning to be a mechanic. He has found that he really likes it too. The degree will be there and can only help him if he opens his own shop someday.

[housewolf]

2. Health care or nanotechnology

Either of those fields will be growth areas for a long time to come.

Also pharmaceuticals. And there's lots of complaining lately about there being an insufficient number of people studying engineering. Financial/Investment management.

I agree with you about being multi-lingual, it's already important but will become even more so.

[serryjw]

7. I don't see health care a career of the future

I don't know how old you are, but I am 55 and probably won't be around to see if I am right BUT Medicine is going to go thru MAJOR changes in the next 50 years. Technology there is no reason why a doctor can't be 5000, 10,000 miles away. MOST medicine will be preformed by nurse practitioners at $40K a year (today's dollars!) and doctors will only go into very specialized fields like cardiology or oncology.
Machines will fill your prescriptions and there will be very little need for a pharmacists. Research will always exist if you have a desire to do that.
The next generation will have to be very aware of the life affirming activities to keep themselves healthy. They will eat better, exercise more, drink in moderation and not smoke. The cost of health care will require it. Andrew Wiel has now brought east medicine to be an acceptable complement to western medicine. and it continue to be in the future. Mediation and other holistic modalities will be common place.
100 years ago itwas unusual to go to a doctor. I think we will return to that.

[Enquiringkitty]

12. My sister heads a genetic research lab and she agrees with your

view of the future. Prescriptions will be filled over the net and arrive at your home; Walgreen's is working on that now. but she says that through research and development of gene altering meds many of the illness' we have today will no longer be any more than having a cold today.

People will go back to living like our grand parents did in treating themselves with commonly known herbs and techniques Most doctors will tell you that the majority of the scrips given out aren't really needed. People today just want a pill to take away the smallest, most common thing instead of letting their bodies fight it naturally.

Between these two, there will not be as bid a need for health care personnel. The traveling nurse will become common....like the "home health care nurse" is today.

What's old is new again....I know my grand mother could cure almost anything....everything tasted horrible but you got well.

[serryjw]

13. Thanks for the agreement

Most diseases come from stress and no exercise & bad eating. We will have no choice but to change the way we live. I didn't know Walgreens is working on home delivery BUT not surprised. The errors can be minimized by doctors logging in to the INTERNET using a code for each med and and it will be filled automatically. it would alleviate so many problems with conflicts b/t meds. The computer would KNOW if the amount is correct Or if there is a potential danger of conflicting drugs

[DU_ONE]

3. I agree

learn a trade first, get a job in trade and then go to college.

[Maple]

4. Everyone will change

careers at least 5 times in their working lives.

As each career becomes overcrowded or obsolete, you'll need retraining and a new start.

A good entry level education...a degree...and then at least 2 fields you can go into.

Old saying...'a man should have more than one string for his bow'

[kittykitty]

5. Along time ago my electrician said "refrigeration". There were not enough

people who could fix refrigeration in supermarkets or other commercial operations like food storage. Of course then they still fixed refrigerators. Now we just throw them away.

edit to correct spelling.

[DU_ONE]

6. Long-Term Jobless Find a Degree Just Isn't Working

The advantages of a college degree "are being erased," said Marcus Courtenay, president of a branch of the Communications Workers of America that represents technology employees in the Seattle area. "The same thing that happened to non- college-educated employees during the last recession is now happening to college-educated employees."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-jobless11mar11.story

You might have to do a simple register to read the article. LAtimes is worth the register.

[fleabert]

8. Nursing, and/or anything in geriatrics...and learn Spanish if they are

going to stay in the US, fastest growing minority in the US, and most speak Spanish.

[phylny]

14. Jobs of the future (my thoughts):

speech-language pathology (more jobs than people right now, I'm always in demand),physical therapy, occupational therapy, autism/behavioral specialist, biotechnology.

[sandnsea]

9. Managing stock funds

For the coming ownership society. The investor class and those who serve them. With immigration, I'm not sure there's any job that is guaranteed decent wages.

[bilgewaterbill]

10. Truck drivers are in big demand. nt

[Enquiringkitty]

11. International law...very high income...long term stability and only costs

.....selling your soul to the corporate devil.

[Speed8098]

15. Politics

It seems to me, the people will ALWAYS need someone to rule their lives.

[elare]

16. Mortician or Accountant ...

... because the 2 things in life that are guaranteed are death & taxes