It’s no secret the world is in the grip of a technology-laden revolution. From the way we shop to how our cities are run, increased automation, the Internet of Things and even virtual reality are changing how we navigate an increasingly tech-dependent world.
It’s a brave new era that’s evolving quickly and extends from our homes, to socialising and even to employment. Here are just some of the ways technology will alter the jobs front in the coming years.
Increased automation
One of the biggest issues that dominates current technological news is the increasing rollout of the Internet of Things. This innovation that allows internet enabled devices to chat with each other has major ramifications for the future of employment, courtesy of automation.
In a nutshell it means some jobs will simply cease to exist because technology will monitor and perform a worker’s tasks for them.
According to McKinsey Research “…the speed with which automation technologies are developing today, and the scale at which they could disrupt the world of work, are largely without precedent”.
They note: “60 per cent of all occupations have at least 30 percent of activities that are technically automatable, based on currently demonstrated technologies”.
They explain most jobs will change, with low-skilled workers the most likely to be impacted, but it’s not all bad news. Before jumping to the conclusion automation will take over every workforce, employers will need to weigh the cost, and address social perception.
“Our scenarios suggest that it may take at least two decades before automation reaches 50 per cent of all of today’s work activities, taking into account regions where wages are relatively low,” McKinsey concludes.
Virtual training
In the interim technology will play a major role in advancing the opportunities for many seeking work. This year sees a focus on virtual reality and likelihood is this will have benefits for the training and employment realm.
A report by Tech Republic illustrates that in the future more employees will enjoy realistic-style training courtesy of virtual reality, while many will also receive essential on-the-job assistance.
This includes:
- Remote guidance to field officers requiring support
- Job training
- Visualising objects to see how 3D prototypes interact with the world
- Customer service to allow consumers to experience the product and brand
- New ways of working where remote data is fed back in industries like healthcare or insurance to estimate the damage, injury or loss.
Remote work
But technology is already making its presence felt. From the employee who enjoys working from home, to the worker whose job is made easier by the internet and remote access, the employment landscape is changing.
No longer are workers restricted by 9am to 5pm and their work premises, they can work anywhere, anytime with the device of their choosing.
New opportunity
It’s tempting to see technology as a threat but where there’s challenge, there’s also opportunity. And this brave new world offers it in spades. Never has there been a better time to acquire jobs via the internet, complete traineeships online or match your skills with potential employment courtesy of job search algorithms.
There are also increased opportunities to freelance, work remotely or establish an online business. Meanwhile each new technology opens up employment in a different form.
The world of tomorrow will involve new arenas like automation, but it will also see new positions open up to manage that technology. Like the industrial revolution, this era will involve change, but at the end point there will be jobs and roles to be fulfilled.
About us
The Father James Grant Foundation arms the generation of tomorrow with the essential skills to navigate today’s changing workplace. We provide training, mentoring and employment skills within our Mission Engage framework, in the knowledge the employment landscape is changing but core skills never go out of style. You can learn more about our programs here or contact us directly for further advice.
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