Megatrends of the future: what skills will employers need

The discrepancy between the competencies of workers and the requirements of employers is growing and remains one of the main problems of the labor market in the world. Breaking down the Global Education Future report on megatrends and skills of the future

The mass education of the industrial age does not prepare for life in a complex world, does not develop thinking, reduces creativity and the ability to cooperate. To solve the problems of the XNUMXst century, it is necessary to change the education system and develop a modern model of society, which will be based on collective wisdom and “fundamental pragmatics of life.”

According to the authors of the report, in the coming decades, changes will occur under the influence of four major megatrends. Almost all developed countries, global technology corporations, social movements and the global scientific community support these observations.

Digitalization is the emergence of digital technologies in different spheres of life. We live in times of total digitalization, when a person is surrounded by data through mobile devices, smart houses and cities, drones, robots, the Internet of things, implants. In modern society, the idea of ​​what it means to “be human” is changing. People are using artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality more to enhance their capabilities.

In 2016, Habr user AndrewRo implanted four implants in his hand that help open the door and unlock the phone.

EMC and IDC estimate that all digital data will reach 44 zettabytes, or trillion GB, in 2020. If you transfer this data to the iPad Air with 128 GB of memory, you get a stack of tablets two-thirds the distance from the Earth to the moon.

The modern era is considered the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 principle. is based on the introduction of new digital and biotechnologies, materials, renewable energy in industry and business. People are massively automating processes and production, introducing artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and robotics.

Revolutionary technologies are changing work and learning. In the next 15-20 years, half of the “routine” tasks of physical and intellectual labor can be replaced by artificial intelligence or robots, even with the current level of technology development. Technology in some areas can replace the economics of mass assembly line production with “on-demand” production. For example, with the help of biotechnology will create artificial organs.

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Civilization will reach “total abundance.” People will focus more on creativity, exploration, communication with other people and nature, rather than satisfying basic needs. A large-scale transformation will change entire professional industries, but will create new jobs and sectors of the economy. Researchers identify at least five sectors where there will be enough new activities for a person.

1. “New technological sectors. With the development of a new generation of technologies, new industries will appear that will require workers. For example, developers and programmers of “smart” energy systems, manufacturers of urban robots and unmanned vehicles, developers of renewable bioengineering materials.

2. “Human-centered services.” These are services based on what robots cannot do. Artificial intelligence has the hardest time imitating creativity and “humanity”. Services from people to people will remain relevant in the areas of education, health, entertainment, and design. For example, in Japan, the “friend for a while” service is popular, when you can order a person to communicate closely with him for several hours.

3. Virtual economies. People will be able to create economies within games, social networks and other virtual environments to live and work there. Virtual reality helps to overcome almost all the limitations of material reality, to create new worlds with their own rules. Professional streamers and miners are the first examples of professions in this sector.

4. Knowledge production sector. The demand for contextual knowledge created in professional communities is growing. These are hard skills and knowledge that are used to solve specific problems. For example, creating visions and strategies, systematizing new practices of organizations. Such knowledge will be developed through co-creation and pooling of collective experience.

5. “Green” economy. This sector aims to restore balance between humanity and the planet. In a green economy, more and more people are playing the role of gardeners, foresters and protectors of the Earth’s natural ecosystem. The authors of the report believe that new areas of employment and self-realization will appear in these sectors, and not “work” from the position of an industrial society.

Trend 3. Transformation of social institutions

Social systems created in an era of relative stability in the past may not be suitable for the future. Under the influence of technology, societies, communities and organizations are rapidly changing, artificial boundaries between human activities are disappearing. More “creative communities” will emerge, in which creativity, work, play, and life are naturally intertwined. People will together create new prototypes of lifestyles and launch social change.

To meet people’s needs and prepare for the future, existing social institutions will have to change. Most of all, the management and financial systems will change. Cryptocurrencies, “reputational” currencies, and other blockchain-based wealth management systems are emerging. People change their values ​​and motivation, money becomes less important factors. At the same time, social institutions are changing under the influence of globalization, regionalization and the crisis of global leadership.

Globalization. As a result of massive growth in trade and cultural exchange, the world is becoming more interconnected. In 2003, China accounted for 4% of world production, in 2020 – already 16%. This means that what happens in China affects the world to a much greater extent than before.

Companies go beyond national forms and become international corporations. Globalization helps to create more products and services, but widens the gap between rich and poor people and the countries of the world. For example, due to the pandemic, more than a million British students from low-income families cannot graduate this year. They did not have constant access to the Internet and the necessary equipment for studying.

Regionalization. In parallel with globalization, regionalization is accelerating – the division of the world into regions. Regions protect public interests from the negative impact of globalization and influence international relations, such as the European Union. At the same time, the functions of the state level are transferred to the regional level. So during the coronavirus pandemic, the regions themselves chose security measures and were responsible for them.

Crisis of global leadership. Global leaders are people who set the direction for their own and other states. Now the world lacks leaders who can unite several regions or the entire planet around a common goal.

Technology is developing science and medicine, so the life expectancy of a person is increasing. According to existing trends, by 2050 the average life expectancy in developed countries will be about 100 years. Creating a cure for cancer and nervous disorders will help most people lead an active lifestyle until at least 90 years old.

An increase in life expectancy will lead to a decrease in the birth rate. With the development of cities and “urban culture” people will have fewer children. In advanced economies, it is now considered normal to have one or two children. Now it is happening in Asia, Latin America and Africa, where urbanization is developing.

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Our society has not yet switched to environmentally friendly and renewable resources. Manufacturing, automobiles and the extractive sector continue to pollute the environment and agricultural practices destroy the biosphere. Industrialization brings humanity closer to the “point of no return”, after which we will not be able to restore the planet, we will not be able to cope with the economic and environmental consequences. A green agenda will require billions of people to think and act differently. New competencies will have to be identified and developed for a healthier, more productive, happier life.

Professional and social life is changing, more people are involved in creativity in horizontal communities and organizations. Continuous development becomes a requirement and part of life, helps to achieve personal and global public goals. Global changes are forcing organizations, communities and economies to compete more strongly and create massive demand for “future competencies”. Such competencies help people act confidently, and not get lost in a new complex world.

The competencies of the future include professional competencies (hard skills, “hard” skills) to solve specific problems and trans-professional competencies (soft skills, “flexible” skills), which help to solve problems in all professions, social and personal situations.

In the future, a person will need different sets of “flexible” skills:

By mastering the “competencies of the future”, we can become more complex people who are able to live in a new complex world. Society and economies are accelerating, becoming more complex. The more people who master new competencies, the more sustainable the future will be.

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