Imagining the jobs of tomorrow in the face of ecological and social challenges
Inspiration for the tool
Workshop developed and deployed by Delphine Riccio, from the Green Guidance Lab
Introduction
Educational and vocational guidance is often based on an individual question: “What job do you want to do later?”. This approach assumes that each young person can freely build their professional trajectory based on their interests and skills. However, this perspective has several limitations. Young people’s professional representations often remain very stereotyped and limited, influenced by those around them or by the media. They frequently focus on a small number of traditional professions, even as ecological, social, and technological transformations will profoundly modify the world of work.
At the same time, young people are faced with major challenges: the ecological crisis, economic uncertainties, academic pressure, and concerns about the future. In this context, guidance can also become a space for collective reflection on the future of society. This activity therefore proposes to shift the question of guidance: instead of only asking “what job do you want to do?”, it is also about reflecting together on “what society do we want to build and what jobs will be necessary to achieve it”. Group work allows students to understand that major contemporary challenges require collective and interdisciplinary responses, mobilizing a diversity of professions.
Objectives
By the end of the activity, participants will be able to:
- Reflect on the transformations of the world of work related to ecological and social challenges
- Broaden their representation of professions
- Understand that complex problems require the cooperation of many professions
- Imagine solutions and jobs to meet the future needs of society
Resources needed
- A3 sheets
- Markers or pencils
- Fact sheets describing the sectors studied
- Whiteboard or space for collective feedback
- Printed instruction sheets for each group – some examples are in the text, it is important to adapt them to the national context.
Activities
1. Introduction
The facilitator introduces the session by explaining that the world of work evolves according to the needs of society. Today, several important challenges arise, notably ecological, social, and economic challenges. These challenges will transform many sectors of activity and cause professions to evolve. The objective of the activity is to imagine how these sectors could evolve in the future and what jobs could contribute to building a more sustainable society.
- Group organization
Divide the class into 8 groups of 3 to 4 students. Each group works on a specific sector, for example:
- transport
- agriculture
- construction
- industry
Several groups can work on the same sector in order to compare ideas during the feedback session.
- Group work
Each group receives a starting situation and a series of questions. Students must discuss together and note their ideas on an A3 sheet. They can use words, diagrams, or drawings.
Example 1: transport sector
To face the climate emergency, it would be necessary to reduce the car fleet by approximately 40% and develop other modes of travel. Questions to guide reflection:
- To use the car less, what other modes of travel should be developed?
- With fewer cars, what could be the jobs of tomorrow in the transport sector?
- Based on your inspiration, draw or diagram a neighborhood, a city, or a territory of the future.
- What jobs could be involved in land use planning and the organization of travel?
Example 2: agriculture sector
To meet food needs and ecological challenges, it might be necessary to significantly increase the number of agricultural jobs in the coming decades. Questions to guide reflection:
- Why is it sometimes difficult to find people to work in agriculture?
- Until now, what happens in France when there is a shortage of agricultural workers?
- What solutions could improve the situation in the future?
- What new jobs or new ways of working could appear?
Example 3: Food
In 2017, the average consumption of local food items by households in the 100 largest French urban areas was only 2%. Conversely, each territory exports an average of 97% of its production. The food budget decreased from 23.6% in 1960 to 12.4% in 2013. We have developed a culture of low-cost food. Questions to guide reflection:
- What changes in our lifestyles are coming?
- What evolution of work and jobs can be foreseen? Job disappearance and creation? New jobs? Jobs that will disappear?
- Create a poster summarizing your reflections to present them.
Example 4: Building renovation
The building sector is one of the main contributors to the ecological crisis: it represents approximately 43% of energy consumption in France and 23% of greenhouse gas emissions. On a global scale, it accounts for nearly 30% of energy consumed and 26% of CO₂ emissions, largely due to heating, air conditioning, and materials like concrete. It also contributes significantly to resource depletion and waste production, with construction generating a major share of mineral waste.
- Building renovation: why, how?
- What evolution of work and jobs can be foreseen?
- Job disappearance and creation? New jobs? Jobs that will disappear?
- Create a poster summarizing your reflections to present them.
Example 5: Weekends
We are used to gathering around consumption activities (shopping, leisure). But if we reduce our consumption, around what activities can we gather to do and create together? Questions to guide reflection:
- What changes in our lifestyles are coming?
- What evolution of work and jobs can be foreseen?
- Job disappearance and creation? New jobs? Jobs that will disappear?
- Create a poster summarizing your reflections to present them.
- Feedback
Each group presents its work to the class: the main ideas, the imagined jobs, and the drawing or diagram produced. The facilitator can note the mentioned jobs on the board to show the diversity of possible contributions. This phase also allows for comparing the visions of the different groups.
Extension Activities
To deepen the reflection, several approaches can be proposed:
- identify a small concrete action to test in the following weeks
- reflect on possible alliances with other people to act collectively
- discuss the obstacles encountered when seeking to change certain professional practices
- explore how these actions could influence future career choices or professional practices
Reflection/Learning Consolidation
Invite participants to reflect at the end of the activity:
- Which ideas seem most inspiring or motivating to you?
- Have you discovered new ways to contribute to the ecological and social transition?
- What small action seems possible for you to try in the coming weeks?
- What forms of cooperation could facilitate these changes?
- How might these reflections influence the way you think about your work or your professional future?