By 2035, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report forecasts a seismic shift: 85 million jobs automated away, but 97 million new ones emerging in fields like sustainable tech, AI ethics, and creative data design.
The twist?
These roles won't reward rote memorisation or basic coding - they'll crave adaptable thinkers who collaborate globally, navigate ethical dilemmas, and innovate under uncertainty.
For UK parents, especially in the North where regional divides run deep, this isn't abstract futurism; it's a call to action. Only 35% of primary children in areas like Rotherham or Blackburn get regular exposure to coding or digital tools, versus 60% in London (STEM Learning Trust, 2024).
Attainment gaps mean Northern children enter secondary school with 20% less tech confidence (DfE Regional Report, 2025), widening the North-South chasm that's persisted since the 2010s.
But here's the truth: You don't need a computer science degree, expensive gadgets, or endless after-school clubs to close this gap. As a parent juggling work, budgets, and the cost-of-living squeeze, you hold the key - through simple, joyful home routines.
This comprehensive guide unpacks the seven research-backed skills that will define 2035 success, drawn from PwC, McKinsey, and WEF insights tailored for UK families.
Let's dive in and future-proof together.
Why 2035 Matters: The Jobs Your Child Will Actually Apply For
Let’s go step-by-step here.
Fast-forward to 2030 and here in the UK, PwC predicts that up to 30% of jobs could be automated by the mid-2030s. That doesn’t necessarily mean 30% of workers will be out of a job, it means the tasks within jobs are changing. For example, a nurse will still be a nurse, but she may rely on AI to analyse patient data faster. A lawyer will still be a lawyer, but case research that once took a week may now take an hour.
What can we take from this? Routine tasks like data entry will be obsolete. Instead, employers will hunt for "T-shaped" talent: deep expertise in one area, broad skills across others.
We should also consider entire new industries like the AI landscape and Green Economy. The International Labour Organization – an agency of the United Nations – predicts the transition to a green economy would lead to a net increase of 18 million jobs globally suggesting opportunities in sustainable careers.
But how can your child get into these roles? Below are 7 hot skills you should help them develop in order to land any job of the future, and research by OECD shows early skill-building yields 25% higher lifetime earnings, so there’s no time like the present!
7 Future-Proof Skills for the Careers of 2035 & How Parents Can Help Build Them
No expertise? No problem!
85% of learning activities for future career skills use household items or free resources like Library Coders Clubs (often free for under-12s) and eco-workshops via council grants.
Research shows parental modeling boosts uptake by 40% (EEF, 2024) so it’s important to lead by joining in! Attend clubs and workshops together, and promote online learning through free apps and video courses.
You could also combine home learning with expert support; small-group magic adds peer spark and accountability!
Here are 7 hot skills drawing from global forecasts, with why-it-matters breakdowns and 3 scalable home activities. Aim for 15–30 minutes weekly practice - progress compounds like interest…
Adaptive Problem Solving
📖 Definition: The ability to identify roadblocks, experiment with fixes, and iterate without frustration - think Lego engineering meets real-life pivots.
💡 Why it matters: Ranked #1 by WEF for 2035, this skill powers 80% of emerging jobs, from troubleshooting AI glitches in Newcastle tech startups to crisis-managing supply chains in Birmingham logistics. In the UK, where automation displaces 2 million roles by 2030 (ONS), adaptive thinkers thrive - boosting employability by 35% (LinkedIn Economic Graph, 2024).
🏠 Home activities:
- KS1–2: Craft a paper bridge to span a 20cm gap and hold 20 coins; when it flops, brainstorm "what if" tweaks (e.g., add tape folds). Materials: Newspaper, string - cost: £0.
- KS3: Design a £10 family meal for four using fridge scraps; swap ingredients if "stock runs out" to mimic scarcity. Track wins in a shared notebook.
- KS4: Simulate a gadget glitch - use online forums (like Reddit's r/techsupport) to "fix" a borrowed device's alarm without buying parts. Debrief: What pivot worked best?
AI Literacy & Ethical Tech Use
📖 Definition: Grasping AI basics (e.g., how chatbots "learn"), detecting biases, and applying tools responsibly - like a digital compass.
💡 Why it matters: McKinsey projects 70% of 2035 jobs will partner with AI, from bias-auditing algorithms in London finance to ethical design in Manchester health tech. UK laggards risk a "digital underclass" - only 40% of Northern teens feel AI-confident (Ofcom, 2025) - but early fluency adds 20% to career adaptability.
🏠 Home activities:
- KS1–2: Prompt a free AI (Google Gemini) for a "silly dragon story"; hunt for goofy errors together and rewrite one "better" ending.
- KS3: Remix a school poster in Canva's Magic Studio; pause to chat: "Who owns this image? What if it's biased toward one culture?"
- KS4: Build a simple image classifier with Google's Teachable Machine (upload pet photos); discuss: "What if it mislabels diverse faces - how to fix?"
Creative Collaboration
📖 Definition: Brainstorming bold ideas in mixed groups, blending empathy and innovation - virtual or in-person.
💡 Why it matters: With remote work standard, WEF flags this for 65% of roles; UK firms like those in Leeds' creative quarter seek it for multicultural teams, correlating to 28% higher innovation rates (Creative Industries Federation, 2024).
🏠 Home activities:
- KS1–2: Launch a 15-minute "invention jam" - sketch toy upgrades as a family, vote on the wildest.
- KS3: Poll relatives via WhatsApp for outing ideas; negotiate a hybrid plan, noting "win-win" compromises.
- KS4: Team up with cousins for a 60-second explainer video on a GCSE topic (e.g., climate models) - edit collaboratively in free CapCut.
Data Fluency
📖 Definition: Interpreting visuals like graphs, probing "why" behind numbers, and forecasting patterns - data as a storytelling tool.
💡 Why it matters: Data underpins 90% of sectors by 2035 (IBM UK); from farm yields in rural Yorkshire to fashion trends in Manchester, fluency drives decisions - UK data-savvy grads earn 15% more (Prospects, 2025).
🏠 Home activities:
- KS1–2: Sketch a weekly pocket-money pie chart on paper; discuss: "Why more on sweets than savings?"
- KS3: Log screen time vs. energy in Google Sheets (free template from BBC Bitesize); spot trends and tweak one habit.
- KS4: Dive into local data (e.g., council recycling rates via Gov.uk); email a one-page "improvement pitch" to your MP.
Resilience & Growth Mindset
📖 Definition: Reframing failures as feedback, embracing effort over innate talent - mental muscle for lifelong pivots.
💡 Why it matters: LinkedIn forecasts 40% of 2035 jobs needing quick upskilling; resilient UK workers report 30% less burnout (CIPD, 2024), vital amid Northern mental health waits.
🏠 Home activities:
- KS1–2: "Flop Fest Fridays" - play a new game, cheer the silliest slip-up with stickers.
- KS3: Maintain a journal: Challenge | Effort Invested | Key Lesson - review monthly over tea.
- KS4: Pitch for a local gig (e.g., dog-walking ad on Nextdoor); journal the "no's" and one growth takeaway.
Sustainability Thinking
📖 Definition: Weighing environmental/social impacts in choices - profit with purpose.
💡 Why it matters: UK's net-zero race births 725,000 green jobs by 2030 (Climate Change Committee); sustainable thinkers lead, with 25% premium pay (Aldersgate Group, 2025).
🏠 Home activities:
- KS1–2: Overhaul bins - sort, weigh weekly trash, invent "reduce" hacks like jar lids.
- KS3: Compute family carbon via WWF's free tool; trial one cut (e.g., meat-free Mondays).
- KS4: Propose a "zero-waste" canteen tweak to school governors, backed by stats.
Entrepreneurial Mindset
📖 Definition: Need-spotting, quick prototyping, feedback loops - hustle with heart.
💡 Why it matters: Upwork sees 60% freelancing by 2035; entrepreneurial UK youth start firms 40% faster (British Business Bank, 2024).
🏠 Home activities:
- KS1–2: Mini-market stall (cookies for "change"); tally profit in crayon.
- KS3: List old gear on Vinted, donate 20% - reflect on "customer chats."
- KS4: 30-day venture (e.g., Canva bookmarks sold locally); iterate from feedback.
10 Jobs of the Future: Careers Your Child Could Thrive in by 2035
The seven skills above aren't abstract - they're the foundation for tomorrow's hottest roles.
Drawing from WEF's Future of Jobs Report 2025 and PwC's UK projections, which forecast 35 million new jobs globally by 2030 (with UK green and tech sectors leading at 18 million roles), here are 10 emerging jobs.
Each is structured with why it's future-proof, core skills (tied to our 7), required qualifications, UK salary estimates (2030 projections via ONS/Prospects), and KS-level prep steps.
These jobs are predicted to cluster in Northern hubs like Manchester's tech parks and Sheffield's eco-firms, closing regional gaps with the North-South divide.
1. AI Ethics Auditor
👉 Why future-proof: As AI integrates into 70% of UK jobs by 2035 (McKinsey/DSIT), auditors ensure fair, unbiased systems—preventing scandals like biased hiring tools. Demand surges with EU AI Act enforcement, creating 45,000 roles (Tech Nation).
🧠 Core skills: AI Literacy & Ethical Tech Use; Resilience & Growth Mindset.
🎓 Qualifications: Bachelor's in AI/Computer Science or Ethics/Philosophy; Certified Ethical Emerging Technologist (CEET); 2–5 years in compliance.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £55k–£85k (Glassdoor/Jobicy).
📚 Prep now: KS2: Debate AI "fairness" in family games; KS4: Audit a chatbot for biases using free tools like Google's Teachable Machine.
2. Climate Resilience Planner
👉 Why future-proof: Net-zero targets demand experts modeling floods/heatwaves for cities—UK faces £1bn annual flood costs by 2035 (Green Alliance), spawning 120,000 jobs amid 18 million green roles (Green Jobs Taskforce).
🧠 Core skills: Data Fluency; Adaptive Problem Solving; Sustainability Thinking.
🎓 Qualifications: Degree in Environmental Science/Urban Planning; Chartered Institute of Environmental Management (CIEM) certification; GIS software proficiency.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £45k–£70k (ZipRecruiter/LinkedIn).
📚 Prep now: KS1–2: Map local "flood zones" with crayons; KS3: Use free apps like Ordnance Survey to analyze weather data.
3. Virtual World Designer
👉 Why future-proof: Metaverse economies could rival UK GDP by 2035 (DCMS), fueling 80,000 creator jobs in immersive training/gaming—post-VR boom, with Meta/Unity driving demand.
🧠 Core skills: Creative Collaboration; Entrepreneurial Mindset; AI Literacy.
🎓 Qualifications: Degree in Game Design/3D Modeling; Unity/Unreal Engine certification; Portfolio of VR prototypes.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £40k–£75k (Indeed/Glassdoor).
📚 Prep now: KS2: Build worlds in Minecraft Education; KS4: Design a "family metaverse" room in free Roblox Studio.
4. Personalised Learning Architect
👉 Why future-proof: Edtech explodes with AI tutors adapting to 10 million UK learners by 2035 (BESA), addressing post-pandemic gaps—30,000 roles in hybrid education (WEF).
🧠 Core skills: AI Literacy; Resilience & Growth Mindset; Data Fluency.
🎓 Qualifications: Master's in EdTech/Instructional Design; Experience with AI platforms like Duolingo; Teaching certification.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £50k–£80k (Edtech.com/Glassdoor).
📚 Prep now: KS3: Customize a study app for siblings using MIT App Inventor; KS4: Prototype personalized quizzes in Google Forms.
5. Urban Farming Systems Engineer
👉 Why future-proof: Vertical farms combat food shortages, with UK agri-tech hitting 25,000 jobs by 2035 (NFU)—solving urban supply chains amid climate hits.
🧠 Core skills: Sustainability Thinking; Data Fluency; Adaptive Problem Solving.
🎓 Qualifications: Degree in Agricultural/Mechanical Engineering; Hydroponics certification; CAD/automation software skills.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £42k–£65k (Indeed/ZipRecruiter).
📚 Prep now: KS1–2: Grow herbs in recycled bottles; KS3: Track yields with simple spreadsheets for a home "farm."
6. Human-Machine Teaming Specialist
👉 Why future-proof: Cobots in factories boost productivity 40% (Make UK), creating 60,000 roles by 2035—WEF predicts augmentation over replacement.
🧠 Core skills: Adaptive Problem Solving; Creative Collaboration; AI Literacy.
🎓 Qualifications: Degree in Robotics/Mechatronics; ROS (Robot Operating System) certification; 3+ years in automation.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £48k–£72k (Coursera/Glassdoor).
📚 Prep now: KS2: Program basic robots in Scratch; KS4: Simulate teaming with free VEXcode VR.
7. Data Storyteller
👉 Why future-proof: Data drives 90% of decisions (IBM UK), with 50,000 analytics roles by 2035—turning insights into narratives for policy/marketing (ONS).
🧠 Core skills: Data Fluency; Creative Collaboration; Entrepreneurial Mindset.
🎓 Qualifications: Degree in Data Science/Journalism; Tableau/Power BI certification; Storytelling portfolio.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £45k–£70k (Glassdoor/ZipRecruiter).
📚 Prep now: KS3: Visualize family budgets in Google Sheets; KS4: Create a "data story" video on local trends.
8. Space Debris Recycler
👉 Why future-proof: Orbital clutter threatens satellites—UKSA targets 5,000 jobs by 2035 in clean-up tech like Astroscale's missions.
🧠 Core skills: Entrepreneurial Mindset; Sustainability Thinking; Adaptive Problem Solving.
🎓 Qualifications: Aerospace Engineering degree; Orbital mechanics certification; Experience in robotics/satellites.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £60k–£100k (UKSA/Space Skills Alliance).
📚 Prep now: KS2: Research missions via NASA apps; KS4: Pitch a "debris cleanup" model in cardboard.
9. Mental Health AI Coach
👉 Why future-proof: AI scales therapy for NHS waits—35,000 digital health roles by 2035 (NHS Digital), blending chatbots with empathy.
🧠 Core skills: Resilience & Growth Mindset; AI Literacy; Creative Collaboration.
🎓 Qualifications: Psychology/Computer Science degree; Mental health coaching cert; NLP/AI ethics training.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £50k–£78k (ZipRecruiter/Headspace).
📚 Prep now: KS3: Test mood apps and suggest tweaks; KS4: Design an AI "check-in" bot in free tools.
10. Circular Economy Designer
👉 Why future-proof: Zero-waste redesigns fuel 90,000 roles by 2035 (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)—tackling UK's 230m tonnes annual waste.
🧠 Core skills: Entrepreneurial Mindset; Sustainability Thinking; Creative Collaboration.
🎓 Qualifications: Design/Environmental Engineering degree; Cradle-to-Cradle certification; Eco-design portfolio.
💰 UK salary (2030 est.): £44k–£68k (ADLIB/Totaljobs).
📚 Prep now: KS1–2: Upcycle toys from junk; KS4: Redesign a product for reuse in Canva.
The Bigger Picture: Raising Tomorrow’s Thinkers
Future-proofing isn’t about guessing the next big job trend. It’s about nurturing traits that never expire: curiosity, empathy, creativity, and courage. The AI revolution, green transition, and hybrid workplaces of 2035 will all need humans who can question, adapt and connect.
When your child learns to rebuild a bridge that collapsed, debug a story an AI wrote, or debate whether recycling rules are fair, they’re not just learning facts, they’re learning how to think.
And that’s the real advantage in an uncertain world.
Parents can’t predict the future, but we can prepare our children to meet it with confidence. Every small conversation at the dinner table, every “why” you answer, every experiment that goes wrong and gets retried - those are the seeds of future careers.
What 2035 Will Really Reward
By 2035, the most in-demand employees won’t just hold degrees, they’ll hold a mindset.
The ability to solve messy problems, to lead with purpose, and to use technology ethically will separate the learners from the followers.
That’s why teaching your child these seven core skills isn’t extra work, it’s everyday parenting reimagined. The family who treats curiosity as normal, resilience as praise-worthy and creativity as serious business is already a step ahead.
Whether your child becomes an AI ethics auditor, a green-tech designer, or something we can’t yet imagine, you’ve given them what matters most: the tools to keep learning long after school ends.
Ready to future-proof your child for the world of work post 2030?
Join a Learning Cubs session this term. Your child’s 2035 edge starts today - let's build it together.
FAQs
What are the top future-proof skills for 2035 jobs in the UK?
Adaptive problem solving, AI literacy & ethical use, creative collaboration, data fluency, resilience & growth mindset, sustainability thinking, and entrepreneurial mindset—per WEF/PwC 2024, tailored for green/AI booms.
How do I teach future-proof skills at home with no tech background?
Leverage freebies: Scratch (coding basics), Google Sheets (data), BBC Bitesize templates. Dedicate 15–20 mins weekly and focus on fun over perfection.
Does the UK curriculum include 2035 jobs skills?
Partially. Computing covers AI basics, PSHE touches resilience, but gaps in data and entrepreneurship skills mean home boosts are essential for better outcomes.
Should primary age kids learn future-proof job skills?
Absolutely! Play-based versions (e.g., story hunts) build foundations without overwhelming. Early starters show 22% stronger adaptability by KS3!
How do Learning Cubs clubs integrate 2035 skills?
Our small-group sessions (6 - 8 kids) weave AI ethics, STEM and mindset tools into weekly sessions. They’re proven to lift engagement by 35%, with scholarships available for further study in these areas.
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