The past year has thrown many into financial uncertainty, especially in the hospitality, arts, and travel industries. If you've been furloughed, made redundant, or your job just isn't working for you like it used to, it could be time to take the government's advice and reskill.

If your previous career has stopped bringing money in, which ones will? Here are some lucrative industries in which you may have some transferable skills you can put to action.

1. Contractor 

Working with your hands and for yourself is possible by becoming a contractor. If you love to build and make things, contracting is something to investigate.

This can be achieved through apprenticeships, or if you have previous experience but aren't qualified, seek out the appropriate qualification channels in your area.

For example, if you're in Arizona, you'll need to meet Arizona contractors license requirements — these are different in other states. Similarly, in the UK and Europe, contractors licenses vary and only allow you to work legally in a specific area.

Once you have the necessary paperwork, you can set about starting your own company, setting your own rates, and working with clients to build their dream properties.

2. Train Driver 

If you enjoy driving and want to stay loosely within the travel sector, becoming a train driver could be for you. You'll need to have razor-sharp focus, hearing, and eyesight, plus a penchant for timekeeping.

You'll need to keep your cool under pressure and may need to work your way up in the industry by starting first as a train conductor.

Train driving isn't always a 9-5 job, but often longer shifts mean that you get more days off. Your office will be ever-changing scenery, and you'll get to see some beautiful parts of your city and country.

The best part is that qualified train drivers can earn £55,000+ per year. If being on the move and time-management are your bag, train driving could be your ideal vocation.

3. Marketing Specialist

The marketing industry is growing and growing. If you understand what makes people tick, are a good salesperson, and are nifty with analytics, marketing is a great fit. Essentially, you'll need to promote products and brands in order to boost your clients' profits.

Within five years on the job, you could be a manager or even head of department. This career is fairly easy to advance in once you have the hang of it. If you're a good writer and know the basics of SEO too, you've got a head start.

4. Business Project Management

Organisers, planners, and number-crunchers, listen up. Business and financial project managers are needed by basically every big company or corporation in the world to plan projects, source staff and materials, negotiate and track costs, lay out timescales, and more. If you love multi-tasking and overseeing that everything goes to plan, project management is your calling.

Better yet, there aren't any concrete qualifications you need to do this. Of course, business, maths, or finance-related degrees are an advantage, but if you can provide examples of how your skills and experience fit the bill, you'd be a strong candidate.

The Bottom Line

With a larger portion of the population under financial strain, it's time for us all to start thinking about how to future-proof our careers and diversify if our current jobs don't work out.

Careers like contracting and public transport will always be around — things always need to be built, people will always need to get around — and anything IT-based is sure to last the test of time as more and more industries go digital.

Make a list of your skills and interests today to see where they fit into a new industry.