Y2K, globalization, e-commerce and recessions, we've feared change before: but what have we learned from it? Foreseeing the latent benefits of change and learning the right skills for exploiting new opportunities is pivotal for our continual relevancy and success in the job market. Therefore, questioning what jobs will be like in 2030 shouldn't make us angst over automation, software’s & robotics, we should seize it. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg’s concern over automation, and it’s job replacing effects, decontextualize the nature of the job market.
Firstly, automatization is not a new labor phenomenon. Many jobs
have been replaced for automation over the years, jobs you may not even be
aware existed. For example, a knocker-upper's job of knocking doors was
replaced for alarm clocks and pinsetter's in the bowling alleys were replaced
for automated machines, amongst many other jobs that have become obsolete and
long forgotten.
Secondly, the job-market is an ecosystem where it’s natural course
will balance itself. For example, a knocker-upper could easily shift his/her
abilities and skills (spatial memory, coordination and time management) towards
other jobs such as delivery services, assistantships or taxi driving. But what
happens if all packages are eventually delivered by drones, our cellphones become
our personal assistants and if our cars are self-driven, what will the
knocker-upper do then?
After reviewing recent literature on the subject, we offer some of
the skills that are mostly applicable for office workers, but may also assist
the general workforce in maintaining relevancy within the next decade:
1. You're the Master (Innovative
Production)
Make the technology work for you, don’t work for the technology. This is a pragmatic approach for learning how to use the newest tools at hand. Learning how to learn new technology is in itself a skill that will assist you in making the technology work for you in creative ways that will improve your efficiency and leverage your results.
2. From quills, to typewriters to Office
Suites/Packages to... (SMAC)
SMAC in an acronym for Social, Mobile Analytics, and Cloud. Social media and social software), Mobile (apps, portable information and communication), Analytics (using data for decision making) and Cloud (remote central data storage) will be expected to some degree, from most office employees. Also, according to recent studies, learning about basic Virtual platforms, Digital and Media content and IT in general, including coding and troubleshooting, is becoming expected attributes from office workers.
3. It's not my job (Cross Learning)
If you haven’t noticed it this far, knowing the functionality of your department, team members and indirect peers, as well as acquiring interdisciplinary competence in other fields, is useful for creative problem solving and backup work. Imagine if the only skill included in the pinsetter’s resume (referenced earlier in this post) was pin accommodation: where would he/she fit in today’s society? If the pinsetter would also have knowledge about cash registering, maintenance, servicing, security, etc., he/she would have transferable skills for a new job. What’s the lesson here? Specialize, but learn all you can along the way through subject-matter literature reading, consulting with peers, formal cross training, elective university courses or certifications in complementary fields of study.
4. I get by with a little help from my
friends (Social Intelligence)
There is one thing robotics are far from achieving, people skills. Read some literature, practice and master: motivating others, collaborative work, personnel management, task coordination, persuasion and communication. These skills are transferable to any industry, are essential, and will be relevant for many years to come.
5. The never-ending software update
(Learning how to learn)
A good habit is to pursue a new skill or acquire new knowledge every time your computer asks for an update. However, the success of this endeavor benefits from your current knowledge of Learning how to learn. Given that this will be something you will be doing frequently, it’s worthwhile to invest some time to master the skill.
Bailey, B. (2018). The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Business and How Professors at the University of North Georgia Train Students on the Subject.
Bedwell, W. L., Fiore, S. M., & Salas, E. (2014). Developing the future workforce: An approach for integrating interpersonal skills into the MBA classroom. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 13(2), 171-186.
Frey, C. B., & Osborne, M. A. (2017). The future of employment: how susceptible are jobs to computerisation?. Technological forecasting and social change, 114, 254-280.
Jang, H. (2016). Identifying 21st century STEM competencies using workplace data. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 25(2), 284-301.
Robles, M. M. (2012). Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today’s workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 453-465.
Taber, B. J., & Blankemeyer, M. (2015). Future work self and career adaptability in the prediction of proactive career behaviors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 20-27.
Vogler, J. S., Thompson, P., Davis, D. W., Mayfield, B. E., Finley, P. M., & Yasseri, D. (2018). The hard work of soft skills: augmenting the project-based learning experience with interdisciplinary teamwork. Instructional Science, 46(3), 457-488.
HR Center of Excellence (2018). 2018 Report The Future of HR. Paycor.
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