[Reeses]

I’m a production mechanic that works with automation techs

You are fine. A coming boom is robotics. Manufacturing will be returning to America and there will be many jobs fixing the production line. Repetitive jobs screwing on lug nuts though: not so safe.

[AustinBill]

Agreed. The four key industries of the 21st century are:

• Biotechnology
• Energy
• Materials Science
• Robotics

My advice to any young person today is to pick one of these field and strive to excel in it. These are the megatrends which will shape the 21st century. Align with them and you'll do well. The key technologies which underpin these are nanotechnology and embedded control.

The ability to learn and to communicate (both written and orally) are also key skills which never go out of fashion.