The mosaic of Mendip's employment scene comes into clear focus with the recently released census data.

Acting as a mirror to the dynamic work-life of England and Wales, the 2021 Census offers a view of the occupations that drive our society.

Mendip, painted by the Office for National Statistics' data, reveals a community where sales and retail assistants lead the employment pack. The census conducted in 2021 accounted for 2,490 individuals engaged in this sector.

Translating these numbers, we find that one in every 26 individuals in the productive age group – a range identified by the ONS as between 16 and 64 years – are keeping our economy vibrant and consumer-centric.

In this intricate tapestry of professions, following sales and retail assistants, are the 1,845 people dedicating their lives as care workers and home carers, alongside 1,175 cleaners and domestic workers.

However, the landscape isn't static. The ONS's research signals potential sunset scenarios for certain jobs across England and Wales – with the demographics of typists and bookbinders aging faster than their counterparts in data entry and analysis.

Automation looms large over the job market, with warnings suggesting that the convenience of technology may push some repetitive tasks in manual and office settings into the realm of obsolescence.

Yet, James Reed chairman of the job site Reed.co.uk, counters this with an upbeat perspective on the future job market.

He affirms, "Sales professionals who foster genuine relationships, healthcare providers caring for our greying population, and educators moulding the next generation – these roles will continue to be the heart and soul of our workforce."

"While technology fast forwards us into the future, it does not discount the invaluable essence of our human traits in accomplishing meaningful work," he added.

Peering further into the data, approximately 7,975 Mendip residents charted their careers as managers, directors and senior officials, according to the ONS.

On the flip side, 5,480 committed themselves to 'elementary' occupations, which, as per the ONS, require the least formal education or training - meaning that 8.3% of Mendip's working-age population is engaged in low-skilled roles.

Nationwide, England and Wales crown sales and retail jobs as the most common, boasting around 1.1 million workers, closely trailed over 800,000 people employed in the care sector.

In the eye of Julius Probst, a labour economist at the recruitment service TotalJobs, care jobs hold the future's ace card, particularly given their resistance to automation.

He said: "Countries like the U.K. are on the cusp of a demographic shift over the next two decades with a significant rise in the population aged 60 or above. Our mechanical counterparts will struggle to assume these tasks anytime soon."