03 Mar Rethink Employment @Delphi_Forum
We are in a transitory period where technology impacts everything. Employment being one of them and we need to rethink about it.
Big Data surround us with massive uncontrollable energy like a tsunami.
New demographic trends emerge with both challenges and opportunities.
Automation, robots and AI definitely impact jobs; however, sectors, hierarchical levels and economies have acute differences. Consequently, the nature of work is modified and careers need to be redefined.
According to OECD estimations for the next 5 years automation puts 57% of jobs at risk. Although risk varies per country, 57% of Greek employees will indeed see his/her job to change in one way or another. Some jobs will be replaced, some others will be augmented. The target is to have a higher “productivity” to become more competitive.
23% of Greek employees belong at the high-risk group as their jobs might be replaced by automation with a possibility of up to 70%. These “vulnerable” groups of employees have in common: a low educational level and work in manufacturing, agriculture, constructions and services provision, such as cleaning, sales, drivers). Age discrimination does not play a role in replacements by automation.
A) Although consultants predict that up until 2024 roles requiring digital skills will increase by 12% machines are not going to replace humans. But we will be organized under new structures, and we will have new occupations.
B) Humans and Machines will be required to cooperate closely for the wider benefit.
Cooperation platforms are here to stay and to empower equal opportunities.
C) Expertise will continue to be a critical factor of sustainable growth. In 2105 jobs based on projects accounted for 28%; this in 2020 will jump to 66%. So, no more hiring on the basis of functions but on the basis of projects.
D) Job for life at the same employer is constantly decreasing; we are experiencing jobs for many employers at the same time.
The new jobs enhanced by technology will be many more than those vanishing.
Administrative, secretarial and accounting support jobs will be less. Along with assembly lines in manufacturing units, call centers and postal services will become less and less.
We will need more people to staff jobs with data (analysis, collection, management), experts in AI and Machine learning, general and operational managers, software analysts and programmers, experts in organizational development, professional sales people and digital oriented marketers, digital transformation leaders are some of the future jobs.
We need to rethink the employment market through the lenses of the seven skills below:
- Ability to thrive through partnerships
- Constant effort to acquire more Know-how
- Courageous to solve complex problems through innovative critical thinking using emotional intelligence and reasoning.
- Drive to learn new skills without forgetting literacy, numeracy and digital literacy.
- Understanding that good use of basic skills such as eye-contact during an interview, active listening and time management are equally important to cognitive skills such as ability to focus, to memorize, to prioritize.
- Perception that learning and development never ends in life.
- Specialize, specialize, Specialize!
According to World Economic Forum all of us will need an extra of 101 days of learning up until 2022. All of us!
The answer to the future technological challenges in employment is founded in our ability to apply our human characteristics. Not to forget our human traits neither to underestimate their impact overwhelmed by the algorithmic power.
Jobs are dead. Long live the work!