Recently Eduardo Porter of the New York Times published the article “Tech Is Splitting the Workforce In Two” about the increased divide between those with well-paid, specialized jobs and those with menial, low-paid jobs. His sentiment is that tech has gone too far. I believe the problem is not technology but a lack of nation-wide engagement on how to reinvent the future of work. We have left to Silicon Valley and Washington what each person needs to have a hand in crafting.

We can now automate the production of the things we wanted in the twentieth century, but have not embraced the fact that we can want more in this century. Not more houses and bigger cars; those were the wants of our grandparents. We have (hopefully) learned that amassing more stuff destroys the Earth and doesn’t really make us happy anyways. But we can be ambitious in a new way; we can still want life in this century to be healthier, more meaningful, and more beautiful than the past. Then we need to dream ambitiously about how to create the kinds of services, markets, and jobs that will make this happen.

This article pushes back against the dark future the New York Times poses by taking some of the most menial jobs of today and reimagining how they can be more lucrative and rewarding for an ambitiously better future.

My goal is not to get this right on the first try, but to get you to start thinking, and talking with other people, and then building.

Sustainability Neighborhood Manager

Today we have garbage men, but in the future there could be robots trained to pick up garbage, or an expansion of Roosevelt Island’s chute system that can make this job obsolete. But this means that instead of simply taking care of the trash we generate in today’s world, there can be people who focus on creating a more sustainable tomorrow.

The Sustainability Neighborhood Manager will be in charge of compost programs for a neighborhood and proper disposal of electronics. They will understand how to capture water run-off with the creation of rain gardens. They will take care of the vertical gardens and pocket parks of the neighborhood. They will be available to help educate the community on the importance of the sustainability initiatives they oversee. They will monitor the energy outputs of the neighborhood’s buildings, and work with Building Managers to institute more sustainability initiatives such as the installation of solar panels and insulation.

Salary: $63,000

Education: 1 year trade school degree. Classes include: Water Management, Waste Management, Composting, Horticulture, Positive Community Building, Sustainable Development

Wellness Adviser

Two women conversing: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-woman-chatting-1311518/

More and more people are embracing the fact that everyone has issues they need to grapple with. And that’s totally fine. In the future a lot of robots will help with the heavy-lifting of maintaining a home (clothes-folding robot can’t come quickly enough), which means that a lot of today’s maids and home health aides can be re-trained into the role of Wellness Adviser.

This person you go to talk to every month. They are like the librarian for all the resources you need to live a more fulfilling life. Can’t figure out taxes? They’ll get you set up on the right software. Having relationship problems? They’ll teach you basic coping techniques, and if you’re still having problems, they’ll recommend psychologists. Want to get healthier? They’ll teach you basic good habits, and if you need more expert advice, they’ll help you find a nutritionist.

The role of the Wellness Aide evolves throughout your life. Fresh out of high school they can work on a ten-year plan with you. As a retiree they can advise you on retrofits to your home to better age in place. Once robots take over the menial tasks needed to just to survive, people can turn their attentions to helping you thrive.

Average salary: $57,000

Education: 1.5 year technical degree. Classes include: Life planning, Career Counseling, Positive Relationship techniques, Library and Retrieval Sciences, Time Management and Organizational Skills, Conflict Resolution.

Nutrition Scientist

Crafting a drink: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adults-apron-business-counter-580613/

Fast-food restaurants are increasingly being automated, which will leave many workers out of a job. But while the making of today’s food can be automated, why don’t we start thinking about how much cooler tomorrow’s food can be?

The nutrition scientist analyzes the foods you already ate today and your daily exercise patterns against your personally crafted goals. Trying to eat less meat? They’ll help. Trying to lose five pounds? They’re there for that too.

Based on how many calories you want to eat, they will recommend basic options on the store’s menu. Then based on your history of flavor profiles that you liked, they can introduce you to new combinations. Think like how Spotify can show you new songs based on the ones you previously enjoyed, but instead of learning you like Scottish punk bands, you learn you like the combination of cherries, almonds, and ginger all mixed together. Food in our future can be sustainable, healthier, and more fun.

Average Salary: $43,000

Education: 3 month certification. Classes include: Basic Nutrition, Nutrition and Allergens, Basic Cooking, Advanced Cooking, Sustainable & Local Sourcing

Personal Clothing Designer

Working on a design: https://www.pexels.com/photo/working-in-a-group-6224/

With the rise of Amazon clothes can be delivered to your door, and with the growth of Instagram there’s an increased desire for fast-fashion. The Personal Clothing Designer takes the place of today’s retail workers in a way that pushes back against this trend. Instead, fashion of the future is more sustainable, more personalized, and more of an experience.

You go to the Personal Clothing Designer and they do an initial scan of your body so that all of your clothes can be tailored to you. After your measurements are taken, you can choose from a selection of basic shapes. The Designer helps you choose based on your body shape, current styles, and what else you have in your wardrobe. After your selection, they can walk you through the process of customization. Add patches? Add embroidery? Create your own logo? They can help you do all of that.

When you make your selection, over the next week you get updates on how your order is fulfilled, along with information on the sustainability profile and manufacturing techniques used to create your clothes. When you get your shirt, or jeans, or shoes, these objects feel special because they are distinctly your own.

Average Salary: $47,000

Education: 1 year trade school degree. Classes include: Drawing, Anatomy, Introduction to Wearable Technology, Sustainable Sourcing, Fashion Design, Marketing, Sewing, 3D printing for fabrics, 3D printing for metal working.