TECHNOLOGY AND THE GLOBALISED WORKFORCE

The advancement of new and disruptive technologies has significantly changed the workplace, and young people will have to contend with a labour market that is constantly evolving. They need to be prepared to tackle these changes, even before they hit the workforce.

ADVANTAGES OF A GLOBALISED WORKFORCE

Students needn’t approach their future with trepidation. The globalised workforce will present great advantages and exciting opportunities:

• New technology platforms make it possible to work from remote locations
• Real time exchange of information and ideas
• Better access to resources, colleagues and clients
• Wider markets to access employment and more flexibility in ways to source income
• Lower barriers to entrepreneurship
• Diverse friendships
• Technology advances making it easier and cheaper for small start-up businesses
• Opportunities for overseas worker exchange and travel

CHALLENGES FOR FUTURE WORKERS

Globalisation will also throw up significant challenges for those entering the workforce:

• Inequality for lower-skilled workers
• Job insecurity
• Increased periods of unemployment or underemployment
• Outsourcing
• Increased competition from workers from around the world

The last point is significant. Young Australians are not just competing with each other for jobs but competing with young people from around the world. This puts more pressure on them to accumulate skills and, crucially, unique skill sets and the cross- cultural competencies that a global workforce calls for. So what can they do to skill themselves up for the global talent pool?

• Self-educate. Be prepared to learn and continue to learn
• Expand IT skills
• Study another culture, its history and politics
• Study Australian culture, history and politics
• Get into languages – companies will be looking for people who are proficient in at least two languages
• Be culturally aware – try student exchange, join a club, travel, experience the world from a different perspective
• Build friendships outside the classroom with people from other places
• Expose themselves to global current affairs and politics
• Get a grasp of foreign policy and agendas
• Remain open-minded to ideas and alert to opportunities
• Prepare for the unexpected and develop multiple sources of income

Some of these points may seem a little vague, but all of them will help equip students with the open-minded, informed and empathetic vision that is needed in a workforce where borders are dissolving.

The future workforce will be defined by:

• The digital workplace
• Jobs destroyed and jobs created by technology

Increasing interconnection with Asia

• A focus on entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation AND tech skills
• Freelance, short-term and contractual positions
• Several careers and multiple jobs in one working lifetime
• Fast paced 24/7 workspace
• A fluid working and retirement age

Additional Resources:

There is also updates to this topic which can be found under the resources link - Work Ready - Jobs of the Future Updates.