“I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose –
More numerous of Windows –
Superior – for Doors –”
Emily Dickinson, I dwell in Possibility – (466)
According to an EU survey jobs for highly skilled workers are estimated to increase by 7 % around 2035. The employment of engineers and researchers is anticipated to increase by 23%. Also, assemblers’ jobs are to increase by 17% along with the new skills needed for using digital tools for assembling.
US estimated employment of IT&C research scientists from 2022 to 2032 is 23% with an average pay of $136,620 yearly. Technological discoveries and new social and economic trends will always create demand for new skills. Some tech changes are more radical and dramatic than others affecting people on more than one occasion. Due to constant new tech novelty, most of organizations are already integrating these rapid changes.
As always, there are several contradictory views on what the future of work might bring. Predictions about AI development say that on average approximately 30% of current jobs will disappear by 2030. On the contrary, others say that AGI will actually help create approximately 250 million jobs.
Now, in-demand jobs are either at the lower end of skills requirements and complexity or at the higher -end. There are either jobs involving vocational education in construction and installation areas or high-skill roles in research requiring a scientific background.
Obviously, the way the organizations are acquiring talent is affected in the long term. But, this is hardly a novelty because we always have to deal with changes. And as always we will need encouragement and support to keep up with the new tech and develop new skills.
New Skills Sets and New Challenges
In recent years skills changes came with complex social issues correlated with the health crises, the aging population and climate change. Recently, AGI advancements have placed a lot of pressure on the global job market.
However, the lack of proper working conditions, low salary levels and the employers’ inability to attract skilled talent are also causing skills shortages. Ironically enough, the current global trend in hiring due to the current job demands is actually the skills-based approach. Hiring based on the skills approach is related to valuing people who have and practice the ability to learn and adapt. Organizations that develop an agile workforce will be capable of meeting future challenges.
The skills-based approach hiring trend
Skills-based hiring actually is not a trendy approach, but a strong building block strategy of organisational growth. Performance hiring will always be done considering skills as a minimum employment requirement. Due to the high demand for particular skills, talent acquisition changed focus and prioritized skills over education or credentials. Eurobarometer shows that SMEs face a skills shortage of 20% for R&D jobs, 18% for IT, 12% for marketing and 8% for HR experts.
However, a real solution to tech innovation disruptions has been a systematic adaptation through learning and new skills development. But, these new skills and knowledge development are not embraced but, by a small part of employers. According to the Gallup World Poll, only 32% of employees worldwide currently work in an environment that fosters their development.
In times of crisis or radical changes, we always come back to the building block of things. In the job market, the skills frameworks are the basis of any occupation. On a larger scale currently, some organizations are creating skills-based models to align themselves with the skills-based approach and generate competitive skills talent pools.
The main objective of skill-based models is the idea that learning and development opportunities will help people develop new skill sets, perform better or prepare for a career change. Learning new skills and facilitating different career paths is based on the skills gaps identified at the organizational level. Skills models are intended to help build detailed skill sets and proficiency frameworks. A clear and well-crafted set of skills will contribute to making strategic decisions about talent development.
Soft skills and hard skills
The soft skills we acquire through our lives and in different workplaces demonstrate how we carry our responsibilities and are related to personality traits, personal attributes, and attitudes towards life. But, beyond the tech or hard skills that we need for every kind of occupation or career path we pursue, there is a set of skills that is unique to each and every one of us. This set of skills comes from the life experiences and circumstances we gather throughout our life circumstances.
In the context of AI evolution, a strong set of soft skills might be an advantage and contribute to a positive mindset to face work challenges. Different sets of skills less or more complex, can be measured by skill tests and periodically improved. Lifelong skills can be transferred into work environments to increase career success.
Soft Skills for the Future
Our world is changing faster than expected mostly because of artificial intelligence. Also, in almost every field of work where repetitive tasks are automated and jobs are at risk. A survey showed that 65% of organisations are already forecasting results for their AI generative initiatives.
Some work future predictions say that by 2030 jobs as we know them now, will cease to exist. AGI, robotics and automation will convert them into a huge database of soft and hard skills. Along with good things like less manual work, improved quality of life, and more free time, AI is also a huge challenge for humanity.
Tech skills are in high demand, more precisely the advanced tech skills in math, health, life sciences, machine learning and, AI research. Creativity, curiosity, and emotions are skills and personal traits that make us who we are and will count in the future.
Soft skills transformation
Soft skills transformation over time best example is remote collaboration. Remote collaboration is now a hiring requirement on job ads. It also involves other skills like communicating with team colleagues and sharing virtual working space, information and work progress. Remote work has made it possible to build teams across the globe and work in sync no matter the time and space.
In these strange times, we should remember that certain personal attributes and soft skills like problem-solving, empathy, and active listening are evergreen. Learning new skills is like taking a plunge into the unknown universe. But, it’s also a chance to surpass our limits or at least to do our best.
However, as incredible non-artificial intelligent human beings living on this planet, we might unlock potential and new possibilities and shape the world in surprisingly positive ways. Hopefully, we’ll become wiser in using our creativity and native intelligence to find solutions and not take the road to a dystopia.
