The landscape of international development is being transformed by powerful trends and drivers of change. A look at major forces at play can help us discern plausible areas of job growth over the next decade or so.
These “megatrends,” as identified in a 2022 study by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, include adapting to climate change and dwindling resources, continued digitalization and increased use of artificial intelligence, disruptions spurred by geopolitical shifts, and growing demands on decision-makers to consider trust, transparency, and social governance.
How might these trends influence future employment in international development? I explore some changes to the development employment market that could unfold over the next decade and beyond.