Looking Beyond IT: Where Does the World Work?
The global economy is much bigger than the careers we hear about most often. The numbers reveal a world of opportunities that students and parents may not have considered.
When Indian students and parents discuss careers, the conversation often gravitates towards engineering, IT, medicine, management and government jobs. These are important pathways, but they represent only a part of the world of work.
What if we looked at the career landscape through a different lens? Instead of beginning with familiar degrees and job titles, let us begin with the industries that keep the world functioning, the people they employ and the changes expected over the coming decade.
Where does the world work?
The global economy can be broadly understood through three major groups: services, agriculture and industry. Services include activities such as healthcare, education, finance, transport, retail and hospitality. Agriculture includes farming, forestry and fishing. Industry includes manufacturing, construction, mining and utilities.
Each group contains a wide range of occupations and career pathways. Agriculture is not only about farming; it includes food processing, logistics, agricultural finance and technology. Healthcare is not only about becoming a doctor; it also needs nurses, laboratory professionals, rehabilitation specialists, researchers, engineers and administrators. Manufacturing needs people to design products, operate and maintain equipment, manage quality, coordinate suppliers and improve production.
Services are equally diverse, spanning education, tourism, banking, logistics, professional services and many other activities.
The broad sector picture is a starting point, not a ranking of career choices. The proportions of global employment vary by year and statistical source, so the accompanying chart should be treated as an orientation to the structure of the economy until all three shares are verified against one consistent ILO dataset and reference year.
One distinction is particularly important: the industry in which someone works is not the same as their occupation. A software engineer employed by a hospital works in the healthcare industry but has a software-engineering occupation. A data analyst at an agricultural company works in agribusiness while applying analytical skills. Technology is increasingly a capability used across industries, not just a destination in itself.
Consider three numbers.
170 million. 92 million. 78 million.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that, between 2025 and 2030, labour-market transformation could create 170 million jobs while displacing 92 million, resulting in a net increase of 78 million. These are projections based on employer expectations and the report’s covered dataset, not a guarantee of future vacancies. The scale of the projected change, however, is significant.
57.9%.
According to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, informal employment accounted for 57.9% of global employment in 2025. More than half of employed people worldwide were therefore working in arrangements that lacked adequate formal protections. Having a job does not automatically mean having job security, social protection or a reliable income.
Looking beyond IT: What the numbers reveal about different sectors
The following examples illustrate the scale and variety of career opportunities. Each figure is presented with its reference year and, where necessary, a note about what it measures. Employment counts, jobs supported, output growth and projected workforce shortages are different measures; none should be interpreted as a guaranteed number of vacancies.
1. Agriculture, food systems and agri-tech
The numbers: FAO estimates that nearly 1.4 billion people were employed in agri-food systems in 2023. This broader system includes both agricultural production and off-farm activities connected to food and agriculture. Within it, agriculture, forestry and fishing alone employed approximately 916 million people, representing 26.1% of global employment in 2023.
The OECD–FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026–2035 projects that the value of global agricultural production for the commodities it covers will rise by 13.3% over the decade, reaching approximately US$4.01 trillion by 2035 in constant dollars. This is a projection of production value, not employment growth. Higher output can coexist with slower job growth when productivity improves.
Agriculture is therefore better understood as a connected system stretching from soil and seed to processing, distribution and the consumer.
Where are the career opportunities?
Agriculture, horticulture, dairy, poultry, fisheries and aquaculture
Food technology, food safety, quality assurance and nutrition
Agricultural machinery, irrigation, soil testing and water management
Cold-chain logistics, food processing, packaging and exports
Agritech, remote sensing, farm analytics and precision agriculture
Agricultural finance, commodity trading, procurement and farm advisory services
What could students explore? Biology and chemistry can lead towards agricultural science, food science and biotechnology. Mathematics and computing can support agricultural analytics and remote sensing. Engineering can lead towards machinery, irrigation and automation. Business-oriented students can explore agribusiness, supply chains and agricultural finance.
There are also self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, from food processing and nursery businesses to farm-equipment rental, soil-testing services and digital agricultural advisory. These require local market knowledge, practical skills and an understanding of costs, customers and risks.
2. Healthcare, pharmaceuticals and life sciences
The numbers: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the global health workforce exceeds 70 million workers. WHO also projects a shortfall of approximately 11 million health workers by 2030, largely in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Healthcare extends well beyond clinical practice. It includes diagnostics, rehabilitation, public health, medical equipment, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, and the systems that help patients access care.
The pharmaceutical industry illustrates how a sector can support jobs far beyond its own companies. An analysis commissioned by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations and conducted by WifOR Institute estimated that the global pharmaceutical industry directly employed 7.8 million people in 2022. Including indirect and induced effects, it supported an estimated 74.9 million jobs in total. The broader figure includes employment across supply chains and the wider economy; it is not a count of pharmaceutical-company employees.
Where are the career opportunities?
Nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation
Medical laboratory science, radiography and diagnostic services
Public health, nutrition, health administration and health informatics
Pharmaceutical research, drug development and clinical trials
Biotechnology, bioprocessing, manufacturing and quality assurance
Medical devices, biomedical engineering and diagnostic equipment
Regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance and pharmaceutical supply chains
What could students explore? Biology is an important foundation for many clinical and life-science pathways, but healthcare also needs engineers, chemists, statisticians, designers, business professionals and technology specialists. Depending on the role, routes may include medicine, nursing, pharmacy, allied health degrees, life-science programmes, engineering or management.
The projected workforce shortfall signals a global challenge, not a guarantee of employment in every occupation or country. Qualifications, licensing, language requirements, location and working conditions all matter.
3. Manufacturing, engineering and industrial technology
The numbers: UNIDO’s International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2024 reports approximately 477 million people employed in manufacturing in 2022, with around 71% of manufacturing employment located in Asia and Oceania.
The broader industrial picture also shows why production growth should not be confused with employment growth. The UN’s 2026 SDG reporting indicates that manufacturing’s share of global employment declined from 14.3% in 2015 to 13.7% in 2025. Manufacturing output can rise even when its share of employment falls, particularly as production becomes more capital-intensive and automated.
Manufacturing includes far more than factory-floor work. Modern industrial companies need people to design products, plan production, maintain equipment, manage suppliers, ensure quality, improve safety and deliver products to customers.
Where are the career opportunities?
Mechanical, electrical, electronics and industrial engineering
Product design, prototyping and materials science
Production planning, quality assurance and process improvement
Robotics, industrial automation and maintenance
Supply-chain management, procurement and logistics
Industrial safety, environmental compliance and energy efficiency
Technical sales, service engineering and manufacturing entrepreneurship
What could students explore? Engineering is one route, but manufacturing also employs technicians, designers, analysts, skilled tradespeople and business professionals. Students interested in practical problem-solving can explore diplomas, apprenticeships, vocational qualifications and engineering degrees.
IT and AI are relevant here too. Software, sensors, data analysis and automation are changing how products are designed and manufactured. The opportunity is not simply to join a technology company, but also to apply technology to physical products and industrial problems.
4. Energy, renewable power and clean technology
The numbers: The IRENA–ILO Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2025, published in January 2026, estimates at least 16.6 million jobs in renewable energy worldwide in 2024.
The report notes that employment growth slowed despite record additions to renewable energy capacity. Economies of scale, automation, manufacturing capacity and grid constraints all affect how investment translates into jobs.
The energy sector encompasses solar and wind power, hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal energy and the supply chains that support them. Its workforce needs include manufacturing, installation, maintenance, grid connections, finance, regulation and project development.
Where are the career opportunities?
Electrical and mechanical engineering
Solar installation, wind operations and maintenance
Battery technology, energy storage and power electronics
Electricity grids, energy management and efficiency
Environmental assessment, project development and finance
Manufacturing, technical sales and energy services
What could students explore? Physics and mathematics can lead towards electrical engineering, energy systems and power electronics. Mechanical and chemical engineering can support work in equipment, materials and industrial processes. Business and finance pathways are relevant to project development, investment and energy markets.
There are also service-business opportunities in installation, maintenance, energy audits and efficiency improvements, subject to appropriate training, certification and safety standards. Growth in renewable capacity does not automatically translate into jobs at the same rate, so students should explore both industry demand and the qualifications required for specific roles.
5. Travel, tourism and hospitality
The numbers: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimated that travel and tourism supported 357 million jobs worldwide in 2024, including indirect and induced economic effects. Separately, the UN’s 2026 SDG reporting estimates that 173 million people were employed in tourism industries in 2024. These figures use different definitions and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Tourism connects accommodation, transport, food services, attractions, events, cultural heritage, travel technology and local enterprises. It offers pathways for people with different qualifications, languages, interests and levels of experience.
Where are the career opportunities?
Hotel operations, hospitality management and food services
Travel planning, tour operations and destination management
Aviation, airport services and transport coordination
Events, conferences, exhibitions and experience design
Heritage, nature and adventure tourism
Revenue management, digital marketing and customer experience
Travel technology, data analytics and tourism entrepreneurship
What could students explore? Hospitality and tourism degrees are one route, but business, languages, marketing, culinary arts, transport, design and digital skills are relevant too. Students interested in entrepreneurship can explore specialist tours, local experiences, travel planning, event services and hospitality ventures.
Tourism is a reminder that not every career follows the same academic pathway. Some roles place a strong emphasis on practical training, customer service, communication, language skills and operational experience.
6. The wider service economy: finance, education, logistics and more
Services make up a large part of the global economy, but treating them as one industry hides their diversity. Banking and insurance, education, retail, transport, professional services, information services and public administration all have distinct workforce needs.
The WEF’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identifies several frontline and care-economy roles among those expected to grow in absolute numbers by 2030. These include farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers, salespersons, food-processing workers, nursing professionals, social work and counselling professionals, personal care aides, and secondary and tertiary education teachers.
These are employer-based projections, not a guaranteed ranking of future vacancies. They nevertheless challenge the assumption that only the most visible or prestigious careers will offer significant opportunities.
Students interested in numbers and analysis can explore accounting, finance, actuarial work, business analytics and operations research. Those who enjoy communication and working with people can investigate teaching, counselling, sales, human resources and customer experience. Students interested in systems and coordination may find pathways in logistics, procurement, transport and supply-chain management.
What do these numbers mean for students and parents?
The purpose of examining sector data is not to decide that one industry is better than another. It is to understand the scale of opportunity before making a personal choice.
A large industry does not guarantee an easy job search. A rapidly expanding market does not necessarily create a proportionate number of jobs. A projected workforce shortage does not mean that every applicant will be qualified or that every country will offer the same opportunities. And a job count does not tell us whether work is secure, fairly paid or suited to a particular person.
Instead, the numbers should help students ask better questions:
What problems does this industry solve? Food security, healthcare, mobility, energy, education and manufacturing all meet important human and economic needs.
Which roles exist within the industry? Look beyond the most familiar job title to technical, operational, analytical, commercial and service roles.
What qualifications and skills are required? Compare degree routes, diplomas, apprenticeships, professional certifications and practical training.
Where is the demand located? Opportunities can differ by country, region, city and industry cluster.
What are the working conditions and career prospects? Explore pay, job security, progression, working hours, licensing requirements and the quality of employment.
Could the interest lead to self-employment or entrepreneurship? In some sectors, a small service business or enterprise may be a meaningful pathway, though it carries financial and operational risks.
How will technology change the work? AI, software, data and automation may alter tasks within an industry without eliminating the need for the industry itself.
Looking beyond IT does not mean looking away from technology
When students hear “technology career,” many imagine a software engineer working for an IT company. But a technology career could also mean helping doctors diagnose diseases, enabling factories to use robots, helping farmers make better decisions or managing a city’s electricity grid.
An IDC–Huawei projection estimates that the global ICT workforce could grow from approximately 61 million jobs to over 97 million by 2030 an increase of around 36 million. These are projections, not guaranteed vacancies.
Technology careers extend well beyond traditional IT companies. Hospitals need specialists in health information systems; manufacturers need expertise in robotics and automation; agriculture increasingly uses satellite data and precision farming; and energy companies rely on digital systems to manage grids and forecast demand.
For students, the possibilities depend on their interests. If you enjoy coding, explore software, AI or cybersecurity. If biology interests you, consider health informatics or medical technology. If you enjoy mechanical or electrical engineering, explore robotics, industrial automation or smart grids. An interest in agriculture could lead to agri-tech, while a passion for business could connect with data analytics in finance, logistics or tourism.
The opportunity lies in combining digital skills with knowledge of a field you care about.
This is the purpose of our Looking Beyond IT series. In the coming articles, we will examine individual sectors in greater depth, using employment data, industry forecasts, career pathways and examples of entrepreneurship to help students and parents make better-informed decisions.
The goal is not to persuade every student to look beyond IT. It is to ensure that every student knows there is a world beyond IT and has the information and confidence to explore it.
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