The 3 most in-demand professions of the future

A blend of brand-new technologies, in some cases still experimental, and social needs. Professions with one foot in the past that come back to life thanks to the fresh lifeblood of the most modern inventions and, again, activities that start out as hobbies and will become genuine, highly specialised occupations. A degree is not always required for the professions that will be increasingly in demand and better paid in the coming years, but you do need an aptitude for technology and plenty of curiosity as well as precision. Here we briefly outline three of the most sought-after professional profiles over the next 10 years.

Urban Farmer

Among the professions of the future, it is said to be one of the best paid. These are Urban Farmers, literally "city farmers", that is, specialists who know the characteristics of vertical farming and modern hydroponic technologies, and know how to exploit potentially productive areas in urban fabrics or even in underground bunkers. The role of the Urban Farmer goes hand in hand with that of engineers, architects and those in charge of urban planning; in fact, the ideal profile of the Urban Farmer is that of a person who starts out as a professional in construction and engineering, as well as agriculture.

Drone pilot

This is the most common term among laypeople, for a category that is actually called SAPR OPERATOR. The American Federal Aviation Administration estimates that by 2018 there will be at least 30,000 men and women around the world able to pilot a drone. Of course, each of them will have a different level of competence and specialisation, especially considering the strict laws that, all over the world, regulate the use of SAPR.
Their usefulness in the fields of:

• artistic (film, photography)
• technical (3D mapping, green agronomy),
• environmental (protection of forest and cultural heritage, monitoring of areas at risk of erosion),
• security (monitoring and searching for survivors in the event of natural disasters), etc. makes SAPR operators holding recognition from the Civil Aviation Authority valuable experts to turn to, whom private individuals, public bodies and heritage authorities alike will no longer be able to do without, except at the cost of considerable investments of funds and time.

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3D-printed structures engineers

At hi-tech fairs and exhibitions about ten years ago, the first rudimentary prototypes of 3D printers could be glimpsed. Today several start-ups across Italy (and beyond, of course) produce various models that go from making small gadgets to creating genuine marketable prototypes for goods of all kinds, from furniture to clothing to all sorts of objects. But the potential of 3D printers doesn't stop there, and experiments are reaching heights unknown until just a few years ago.

For example, the seismic and environmental emergencies that have occurred in Italy and in various parts of the world in recent years have highlighted the need to create safe structures in a short time to make the rescue machinery more efficient. Well, 3D printing can be used for temporary structures built in an emergency. A team of 3D-printing structural engineers could build a community of structures in a week. The engineer/designer who wants to take this path will need to know 3D printing technology but also know how to work in emergency situations. There is already talk of 3D-printing real houses, but in that case specific regulations would need to be created and, as we know, regulations move much more slowly than technology.

What matters is that young people keep up and look around carefully, study the professional reality that is looming in the coming years and find a way not to be left behind. The future arrives right away!