In this article:
- Artificial intelligence and generative-AI services
- Online gambling - regulated markets, tech and adjacent services
- Cybersecurity and digital resilience
- Renewable energy, storage and green hydrogen
- Personalised medicine and genomic-enabled healthcare
As we approach a new year, many of us will be thinking about our careers. Often January hits, and we begin to consider new pathways for ourselves, look out for new roles and generally consider what could make us happier, what could make us make more money and where we see our future.
Over the last few years, there have been some industries that have emerged as the hottest to get into, not only building themselves into big industries, but transforming others too. They’re always worth keeping an eye on, and in 2026 that will be no different.
There are some great opportunities in a wealth of industries at present, so if you’re on the lookout for a new gig, or to develop your skills in a certain area, here are five industries you should look to consider…
Artificial intelligence and generative-AI services
Of course, it’s no real surprise we’re going to start with AI and AI services. AI has become huge in recent years, and as it continues to get smarter, that’s only going to continue. While many of us may think it’s taking jobs from humans, it’s also providing tons of opportunities, too.
There are openings for specialists who can build verticalised models, integrate AI into systems and essentially manage AI platforms too to remove any complexities for the end user.
Then there’s everything else that surrounds AI, too, from building tools to ensuring it’s governed properly and that people are using AI safely. While AI is transforming how we work, it also needs to be used wisely and carefully, so more roles within education will undoubtedly open up too.
Online gambling – regulated markets, tech and adjacent services
Not too dissimilar from AI, the rise of online gambling has been quite something, albeit over a much longer period of time. That said, it shows no sign of plateauing, particularly in the USA as more states begin to legalize, license and regulate online casinos.
Every real casino online has a host of jobs attached to it, from building out games for software providers to the marketing of online casino sites. They need a range of skills, and more of those will become available as the sector grows.
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Today, the gambling and entertainment market in the USA is worth over $120 billion, making it a rather lucrative one too, and with so many entry points it’s well worth considering a career in, with many opportunities to climb the ladder too.
Cybersecurity and digital resilience
We’ve all seen the news and the various cybersecurity breaches hitting big businesses. The risks are increasing, and as a result, cybersecurity is becoming a top priority. Spending on security has increased dramatically, from managing detection and response to various compliance services.
With the sophistication of attacks rising, many more commercial opportunities have arisen to protect us from hacks and attacks, and it’s fast becoming a multi-billion-dollar industry. Whether it be in-house roles or as part of a cybersecurity business, there are opportunities for lucrative moves, provided you have the skills.
Renewable energy, storage and green hydrogen
Energy continues to cause debates, particularly the transition to more sustainable and renewable energy sources. One thing is for sure, though, that is the way we are moving. We’re going to see a rise in jobs around solar and wind power, green-hydrogen projects and grid-scale batteries.
The likes of policy support, application processing and building, project development and supply chain services are all going to welcome more roles, and with governments and corporates dedicated to their net-zero targets and looming deadlines for that, a lot of investment is going to arrive at the doorstep of the industry. So it’s a good time to climb aboard.
Personalised medicine and genomic-enabled healthcare
Finally, healthcare is moving from a one-size-fits-all model to care that is tailored to an individual’s genetic profile, biomarkers and lifestyle. Advances in sequencing, lower costs for genomic testing and better interpretation tools are accelerating personalised therapies, companion diagnostics and targeted prevention programmes. This creates opportunities for startups and established companies alike in genomic data interpretation, digital therapeutics, companion diagnostics for oncology and rare diseases, and clinical-trial platforms that match patients to therapies faster.
Regulatory pathways are maturing, and payers are increasingly prepared to reimburse high-value, targeted treatments, especially where diagnostics can show improved outcomes or avoided downstream costs. Firms that can combine robust clinical evidence with scalable delivery models will be attractive acquisition or partner targets.
Of course, it’s all about finding the right niche for you and where best you can pick up the work you want and need, while also having the skills to do them. But if you’re looking to build out your skills or enter a new industry over the next 12 months, you won’t do any better than looking at these five growing markets.
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