As the general population ages, and as technology changes, these shortages likely will remain, meaning many opportunities lie ahead in the labour market. But just how will that change the world of work? Here's some predictions we uncovered:

Dr. Gail Barrington, part-time futurist and president of Calgary's Barrington Research Group Inc., believes shortages in education, university professors, in medicine, police and social work will continue for 10 to 20 years.

This trend bodes well for those known as Generation X or Nexus, says Arlette Watwood, from Calgary's Discover People Corporation, a company that helps other companies with information management and employee relations.

"We know that money is not the best motivator of employees and that personalized benefits are." Arlette Watwood, Discover People Corporation

"Generation X is a much smaller group and as the baby boomers retire, they will be highly sought after to fill the ensuing vacancies," she says. "This group carries with them very different values about work and life and in order for companies to be successful in attracting and retaining employees from this demographic, they will need to make substantial changes to the way that work is organized and the kinds of benefits they offer."

She believes as we move into an "employees market" for the first time since the end of the Second World War -- based more on knowledged than producing goods -- compensation for workers will also change.

"This trend will definitely result in a change in wages and benefits. My opinion is that more emphasis will be placed on the benefits side of the compensation equation. We know that money is not the best motivator of employees and that personalized benefits are."

The increased use of technology will also lead to more international work and recruiting opportunities.

"From a company perspective the global workforce means a much larger pool to recruit from and also much more competition for potential recruits," Watwood says. "The global workforce is to some extent facilitated by the increasing use of the web to do business. Companies can now do business for a firm in Texas and have all of their staff here in Calgary using the web, video conferencing, VPN's etc..... That really gives employees the best of both worlds. Travel if they like or not."

"Jobs are going the way of slavery, indentured service and child labour." Dr. Tomorrow, Futurist

While many "traditional" work opportunities are likely to remain for a while, just how long remains to be seen, says Frank Ogden, otherwise known as futurist Dr. Tomorrow.

"Jobs are going the way of slavery, indentured service and child labour," he says. "Any job that can be done by a robot will be done by a robot. Seen a car factory floor lately?"

That doesn't mean there won't be work to be done, or shortages of skilled workers, Dr. Tomorrow adds. "But it will be done by task forces that rise and fall as the project opens, expands, achieves its objectives, retracts and winds up. The classic example is a movie.

"There will be a shortage, almost a continuous shortage of 'the right people,' those with an open mind, self-activators and a species hungry for change. They will always be in demand. Hence, will be paid like baseball players. Remember, these types face no obstructions to these fields except knowledge."

Roger Goodman, who compiled the research for the Alberta Careers Beyond 2000 study, says Alberta's working population will include more people from aboriginal populations, other provinces, and other countries.

And as the baby boom generation retires, there will be many opportunities to provide this group with specialized services, be it producing goods and services, or providing health care of some form, he writes.

A few of Goodman's projections from Alberta Careers includes: