2.2 Global Futurism and Megatrends

Ageing populations will drive change in healthcare which will be more predictive and tailored. OECD nations will be impacted more than most and CSIRO (2022) predicts that Australians aged 65+ years will comprise 23% of the population as the ratio of working people to non-working goes from 4:1 to 2.7:1. This will force new thoughts on future-proofing infrastructure, planning, aged care and housing.

It is expected that of those aged 10-24 years, 90% will live in less developed nations by 2050 and the world population is predicted to be between nine and ten billion. Most scientists consider this a maximum upper limit given that the Earth’s carrying capacity would be as low as two billion if all those people consumed at the same rate as the average American.

Society will have an increasing demand for personalisation and experiences as millennials become the largest demographic. For Australia, the impact of ageing will be on the future labour market, healthcare and the widening savings gap.

Economic inequality will become more extreme across most of the world. Refugee crises and human migration will add to the strain as the next waves of disruption promise to push these conflicts to a breaking point.

The future of work and human augmentation could produce a massive displacement of work and workers. Adding to the pressures are climate change, disease and excessive debt. These will collectively reframe the social contract between governments and citizens.

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