The World is Changing…
For generations, young people have been asked the same question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But as our world and economy increasingly shift in unprecedented ways, this question is beginning to lose its relevance. The jobs of the future may be dramatically different from the roles we know today. With the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and global economic changes, many of the careers that today’s youth will pursue likely don’t even exist yet.
Instead of focusing on specific job titles, a more meaningful question is: “What problems in the world do you want to solve?” This shift in thinking reflects not just the variability of the job market itself, but also the importance of encouraging young people to more generally focus on the challenges our society will inevitably face, and then determine what they’ll do, and how they do it. It’s an inherently inspiring and adaptive approach to thinking about leading impactful lives in the future.
Why It Makes Sense to Shift the Focus
The idea of preparing for a single, fixed career path is increasingly outdated. Automation alone is projected to displace millions of jobs in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and even services. The nature of work itself is evolving, requiring more creativity, problem-solving skills, and adaptability.
This is why asking young people to think about the problems they care about—from tackling climate change to solving poverty—can set them on a more forward-looking path. Instead of narrowing their options to a specific job, they can develop a mindset geared toward innovation and resilience.
Economics and Future Challenges
In the field of economics, we see clear examples of how the problems we focus on today will influence the jobs of tomorrow. Take the growing concern around wealth inequality. Economists and policymakers are increasingly focused on the widening gap between rich and poor, as automation and technology exacerbate these divides. Addressing this problem may not mean a specific job today: for example, could one be a micro-lending portfolio manager back in the 90s? What this does require is possessing an understanding of the dynamic economic systems that perpetuate inequality, advocating for change, and devising creative solutions – and then being able to adapt to them so we can have an impact in the modern world.
Similarly, the shift toward sustainability and green energy has created an entirely new sector of jobs that didn’t exist a few decades ago. From economists studying the impacts of climate change on global markets to engineers developing green technologies, these careers emerged from a focus on solving the environmental crisis. Young people today may find their passion in solving these same kinds of problems and they themselves evolve.
Empowering the Next Generation
Encouraging young people to focus on challenges, rather than job titles, also cultivates essential skills for the future. Problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability are the cornerstones of many emerging professions, as is the necessities of embracing continuous education while honing our abilities to work well with other people. Whether a student is passionate about addressing the ethics of AI, ensuring economic justice, or designing sustainable cities, the emphasis should be on their ability to think creatively and effectively collaborate across disciplines.
By linking their passions to real-world challenges, we empower the next generation to not just adapt to the future, but to shape it.
Shaping the Future, Not Just Careers
Asking young people what they want to solve, rather than what they want to be, is a powerful way to equip them for a world in flux. While we can’t predict all the future job titles, we can anticipate the challenges that need solving. In doing so, we foster a generation that’s not only prepared for the future but also driven to improve it.
Interested in learning more about the importance of these skills? Read this article from Princeton on 21st century learning and the skills student’s actually need to be successful!