6 Jobs That Did Not Exist 10 Years Ago

A decade ago, smart speakers were novelties, few companies were remote-first, and “generative AI” wasn’t part of everyday work. Ten years on, 2025 looks very different. So do our workplaces. Several careers that exist today were unheard of ten years ago. Many educators note that children entering school now will end up in inventive career paths beyond our current speculations. Here are six careers that did not exist 10 years ago:

As large language models and image generators moved from research to everyday tools, a new role emerged: professionals who shape, test, and refine how AI systems respond. Prompt engineers craft inputs and workflows that turn fuzzy goals into reliable outputs, while AI trainers curate datasets and feedback that improve model behavior.

Core skills include clear writing, logic, and experimentation, plus familiarity with Python or workflow tools. Getting started often means building a portfolio of prompts, fine-tuning examples, and small automations; junior titles include AI Associate, Model Operations Analyst, or Prompt Engineer I. These roles appear at software companies, creative agencies, consultancies, and enterprise product teams.

As AI systems spread into products and workplaces, companies needed experts to anticipate misuse and reduce harm. AI safety and red-team specialists probe models for failure modes such as biases, data leaks, and misleading outputs, and help design guardrails and monitoring so systems stay trustworthy.

Success calls for a testing mindset, comfort with ambiguity, and basic scripting for evaluations. Entry paths include security labs, QA roles that evolve toward model testing, or fellowships and bootcamps focused on AI risk. Common junior titles are AI Safety Analyst, Model Evaluator, or Red-Team Associate, and employers range from tech firms to healthcare, finance, and education platforms.

With organizations now measuring emissions across their supply chains, specialists translate energy data, procurement records, and logistics into credible emissions inventories and reduction plans. Climate tech analysts assess solutions like efficiency upgrades, electrification, and carbon removal.

Useful skills include data analysis, spreadsheet modeling, lifecycle thinking, and familiarity with reporting frameworks. Getting started can involve certificates, apprenticeships with sustainability teams, and portfolio projects that estimate emissions for a product or site. Employers include manufacturers, retailers, consultancies, and climate software companies; junior titles include Sustainability Analyst or Carbon Accounting Associate.

After the global shift to hybrid work, companies realized remote work is a discipline, not just a location change. Leaders for distributed operations design playbooks, time-zone practices, and culture that make teams productive and inclusive, while coordinating tools, onboarding, and cross-border compliance.

Strong writing, facilitation, and process design are key. Many start as program managers or people ops specialists who pilot async norms and analytics for collaboration. Employers span tech, professional services, nonprofits, and global SMEs; early titles include Remote Operations Coordinator, Hybrid Work Program Manager, or Workplace Experience Analyst.

With mainstream headsets and 3D workplace tools, designers now craft experiences that live around us, not just on screens. Spatial computing designers build training simulations, collaborative workrooms, medical visualizations, and retail try-ons that blend digital content with physical space.

Skills span interaction design, 3D thinking, and storytelling, plus familiarity with game engines and usability testing. Newcomers assemble demos (prototypes, scene interactions, and short clips) to showcase spatial problem-solving. Employers include healthcare, manufacturing, education, and retail; junior roles appear as XR Designer, AR/VR Prototyper, or 3D Interaction Designer.

As electric vehicles surged, the most critical jobs shifted from building cars to building the ecosystem. EV charging planners map sites, work with utilities, and optimize networks, while battery circularity specialists focus on second-life storage and responsible recycling to recover valuable materials.

Helpful skills include project management, basic electrical concepts, GIS familiarity, and a systems mindset. Many begin in field engineering, facilities, or sustainability internships before specializing. Employers include utilities, charging networks, logistics firms, and recyclers; junior titles include Charging Operations Analyst, Energy Program Coordinator, or Battery Recovery Associate.

It’s tough to imagine a job type that doesn’t already exist in the present-day economy. However, in another ten or twenty years’ time, we will be faced with a whole set of new careers that we could never have imagined. Owing to unstoppable advances in technology and innovation, new job descriptions will continue to surface in the ever-changing world we live in.