There’s no doubt that the 2020s have kicked off with an air of uncertainty in the job market, with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic resulting in widespread job losses across a number of different industries and the UK’s economic future still looking unclear.
It’s an unsettling time for many, but for those who are highly trained or are looking for a new career path, there’s no time like the present to take the leap. There are certain skillsets and areas of expertise that will always be in high demand, including for jobs that didn’t even exist a few years back.
Whichever way you look at it, the jobs market is changing and evolving. Technological advancements over the past decade might have eliminated some job functions, but they have also created a flurry of new ones – many of which have exploded in growth and median base pay, making them an attractive prospect for those who have the desired skillset, and are on the hunt for a new and exciting challenge.
Along with these up-and-coming job roles, certain more traditional ones will always have a place in society, too – and as the world we live in becomes more complex by the day, many of them are more vital than ever.
Want to land yourself one of the best paying jobs for 2021? Look no further – because these roles are the ones to go for.
Law Professionals: £50k – £180k per year
Perhaps the most traditional job role on this list, the demand for lawyers, barristers and other legal professionals remains high, and is likely to continue ranking as one of the best paid professions as we head into 2021 and beyond.
For one thing, demand for legal services is on the rise, but alongside this, so are fears amongst leaders that the talent pool might not be big enough for consistent growth.
While there is optimism for the future, changing employee expectations, client demands and technology all look set to alter the nature of jobs for law professionals – with worries that those who qualified many years ago may not be equipped with the right skills and training for the job.
With this in mind, it’s a great time to get into the field – and some of the best courses on offer are based in the U.S. Be warned though; you’ll need to pass a Law School Admission Test to get into one of the best – so check out these LSAT prep courses to ensure that you’re up to date on all of the latest info.
Data Scientist: £50k – £100k per year
Rated one of the top jobs in both the UK and the US when it comes to job satisfaction, pay and opportunities, it seems that data has finally achieved cool status – and demand for data scientists has surged over the past ten years, remaining high as we head into 2021.
Spanning a range of sectors – from tech to healthcare, finance to business, there’s barely a sector out there that doesn’t require this level of expertise. As more companies than ever invest in technology to collect user data, the need for professionals to help them interpret it is an obvious one. The good news is, average salaries have surged in line with demand, and are constantly on the rise.
Today, more universities than ever are offering data science degrees, where before, these roles were filled by those from science, maths and statistics backgrounds.
Thinking of taking the plunge? Get in there now, while specialists remain relatively few and far between.
Information Security Engineer: £50k – £100k per year
Over the past decade alone, data breaches have compromised billions of accounts, and the need to protect user data has become a central focus as a result. Due to this, information security remains one of the fastest growing fields, and information security engineers, who work to safeguard an organisation’s computer network systems, as well as planning and implementing additional security measures to protect them from cyber-attacks, are enjoying elevated salaries as a result.
The field was projected to grow by 32 per cent between 2010 and 2028, and currently, this is on track. More companies than ever are seeing the value in investing in an information security specialist, and are willing to pay handsomely for the privilege of having one ‘on the inside’.
Director of Diversity and Inclusion: £75k – £150k per year
Moving away from the tech space now, workplace culture has become a key consideration amongst some of the world’s most successful companies in recent years, with more of them than ever beginning to recognise the value of happy, diverse and inclusive workplaces.
According to various studies, more than half of UK employees have witnessed or experienced discrimination at some point in their careers, whether based on age, race, gender or LGBTQ+ identity. It’s clear that there is a desire to change this which is spanning multiple different industries and sectors, with larger companies leading the way by investing in the tools and resources required to foster a more inclusive workplace.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty in the jobs market, skillsets and qualifications required to fill these roles will always be in demand. So, whether you’re looking for a career change or simply planning on stepping it up a notch in 2021, then these four roles are a great place to start.
