“If you still want to work in 10 years, read this book!”
From youth's "career choices" to the "career transition" of the 30-40 age group.
Even the 'career extension' of the 5060 generation
The latest career report, covering promising future careers and preparation strategies!

***Highly recommended by Jim Data, President of the World Futures Association, and Professor Lee Kwang-hyung, KAIST***
***Includes promising future jobs by industry***

A Great Job Transformation as Predicted by South Korea's Top Futurist

The "KAIST Future Class" series, featuring lectures by renowned scholars looking ahead to the next decade, opens with "The Future of Jobs."
For each individual, ‘occupation’ is a life-or-death choice that determines survival and is the root of social identity.
Everyone wants a job that is stable, pays well, and allows for self-fulfillment.
The problem is that such jobs are constantly changing and the skills required are also increasing.
The concept of a 'lifelong job' has now disappeared.
Many people express anxiety and curiosity about their jobs.
'How long can I make a living with this job?', 'Will being a doctor still be a promising career?', 'Is there no new job I can start as I get older?', 'What college major should my child choose to get the best job?'
There has never been an expert who could give a clear answer to such a life-changing question.
Professor Seo Yong-seok, Korea's most trusted futurologist, presents a clear vision for the future of work and careers.


Today, many jobs have been automated by AI and robots, and job opportunities are rapidly shrinking.
This is the opposite of what people expect when they want to work longer hours to make a living.
Both young people preparing for employment and middle-aged people looking for a second career are earnestly asking, "How should I make a living?"
But there's not all pessimism about jobs.
Because in this era of rapid change, jobs we could never have imagined are emerging.
Macroeconomic factors such as technological advancements, climate crisis, and demographic changes are rewriting the order of the world of work.
Only those who can read the times can discern between 'jobs in crisis' and 'jobs of opportunity.'
As every industry undergoes tectonic shifts, this book will guide you to careers that guarantee not only survival but also success.

The knowledge and skills we have now can become useless at any moment.
If we refuse to learn new things and are insensitive to change, our jobs may be in jeopardy at any time.
But there is no need to be discouraged.
We must become more competitive in line with the changing world.
As job roles are redefined and industries are restructured, individuals who can quickly adapt to new environments will survive in the working world.
Reskilling and upskilling will become more important than ever, and lifelong learning will become a necessity, not an option.
--- From "Prologue: What if your job doesn't exist in 10 years"

We are told that we should find joy and fulfillment in our work and pursue our values ​​and self-actualization.
However, historically speaking, it is only very recently that 'work' has been portrayed in a positive light.
Since the beginning of civilization, work has always been considered 'painful'.
The value and meaning of work have changed over time, and their meanings also differ depending on civilization and culture.
(Omitted) The future view of labor will change with a focus on ‘technological advancement,’ and macroeconomic environments such as population structure and climate environment will also reconstruct the meaning of work.
In the future, it is expected that new labor values ​​will emerge that harmonize individuals and society, work and play.
--- 「Part 1.
From “A Short History of Work and Professions”

Even today, a variety of smart devices and software that are fast, smart, and even cheap are providing capabilities once considered exclusively human.
Machines are rushing out of the factory to do marketing and sales, and even answer call center calls.
Following factory automation, even the service industry is being replaced by machines.
Even areas that once required highly specialized expertise, such as diagnosis, surgery, accounting, and legal services, are rapidly being encroached upon by AI.
This means that white-collar jobs may disappear in the near future.
“Machines will do that job starting tomorrow!” One day, we might suddenly hear something like this from our employer.
--- 「Part 2.
Among the “3 structural factors that will change the topography of work”

A decline in the working-age population means a decline in the labor force.
What can be inferred from this is the ‘alleviation of the unemployment problem.’
Our country's youth unemployment rate remained in the 7-8% range since the 2000s, peaking at 9.8% in 2017 before declining again to 5.9% in 2023.
The decline in the working-age population has already begun to be reflected in the alleviation of youth unemployment.
As of 2023, the population aged 25 to 29, which can be considered the working age group, is approximately 3.6 million.
The number of young employed people is estimated to decrease to 2.5 million in 2035, 2 million in 2045, and 1.63 million in 2048, when those born in 2023 enter the working age group.
Competition for jobs could be reduced, and young people in the future could find employment in a much more favorable environment than today.
However, there is one important variable here: job replacement by technology.
--- 「Part 2.
Among the “3 structural factors that will change the topography of work”

[Designer of a Good Death] In the coming era of low birth rates and high mortality, 'how to live' and 'how to end one's life' will become important topics.
This will soon lead to an interest in improving the quality of death along with the quality of life.
Because ‘well-dying’ is the completion and ultimate goal of ‘good life.’
'Good Death Designer' provides customized designs for customers to have a good death.
In addition to helping people prepare for death with their medical, legal, and financial plans, they also handle the practical tasks of writing wills and planning funerals.
Their role is also to provide emotional support and counseling to help people reconsider their negative perceptions of death.
So ultimately, we help our clients organize their lives the way they want and leave with peace and dignity.
--- 「Part 3.
Among the promising industries and occupations of the future

The most preferred occupation among middle and high school students is none other than ‘teacher.’
The role of teachers is changing significantly in response to rapidly changing educational environments, social conditions, and technological advancements.
While the role of teachers in the past was focused on imparting knowledge, teachers in the future will focus on personalizing students' learning experiences as facilitators, coaches, and mentors.
In today's world, we no longer rely on teachers; information and knowledge are readily accessible through the internet and digital platforms.
Teachers will now move beyond simply distributing information to become "learning designers" who facilitate students' independent learning and critical thinking.
Amid these changes, teachers are increasingly required to be versatile professionals who possess creative problem-solving skills, diverse technical competencies, and the ability to support students emotionally and socially.
--- 「Part 3.
From “Promising Industries and Jobs of the Future”

Traditionally, career changes were considered rare, but in this era of constant change, career changes will become the norm in the workplace.
In the age of automation and AI, the loss of jobs due to technology is an undeniable reality.
But we must also consider that as certain jobs disappear, new jobs will emerge that we cannot yet imagine.
In the future, rather than being fixated on one career, we will need to become lifelong learners and adapt to the new world of work.
Of course, to do so, we must continuously upgrade our technology and knowledge.
The traditional concept of career transitions will become less relevant in the future world of work, and multi-stage careers will become more prevalent.
A new concept of career is gaining traction, encompassing work, study, and even potential career breaks.
This shift reflects a shift in how we understand work from an employment-centric model to one that focuses on "employability"—the ability to obtain and maintain employment.
--- 「Part 4.
From “Preparing for Future Jobs”

In addition, there are various programs in which the government and businesses collaborate to cultivate talent suited to industrial needs.
For example, the 'Work-Study Program' is a program that allows students to receive on-the-job training (OJT) at a company and theoretical learning at school, allowing them to experience both learning and working at the same time.
Learners can receive training while receiving wages, and companies can develop talent by receiving training expenses support.
Major domestic corporations are also participating in this.
Another program is the 'K-Move School' operated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Human Resources Development Institute for Industry.
This is a program that supports overseas employment, providing young people with job training, language education, and cultural adaptation education necessary for overseas employment.
Its unique feature is that it links internships and employment with overseas companies in countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia.

--- 「Part 4.
From “Preparing for Future Jobs”