As technology continues to advance, companies need workers who can leverage digital tools and data to improve operations and decision-making.
- The future of work is changing rapidly.
- Specific skills are becoming increasingly important as companies seek workers who can adapt to a changing environment and work effectively with others.
- We take a look at some of the key trends to watch for the jobs of the future and the jobs in high demand.
The future of work is changing rapidly with advances in technology, artificial intelligence, globalization and demographic change.
These changes are creating new opportunities and challenges for workers in every industry.
The jobs of the future will require a different or updated set of skills, knowledge and abilities from those of the past.
Let’s take a look at some of the key trends to watch for in the future of work.
automation
One of the biggest trends in the future of work is automation. Automation is now a big topic with the rapid rise of generative AI as one aspect of it. Automation is essentially the use of technology to perform tasks previously performed by humans.
This trend is expected to continue in the future and could impact a variety of industries, from manufacturing to healthcare.
reported that McKinsey, automation may force hundreds of millions of workers around the world to switch jobs by 2030. However, this also means that automation will create new jobs such as robot his coordinators, data his analysts and cybersecurity specialists.
“Technical feasibility of automation is important, but it is not the only factor affecting the pace and scope of automation adoption,” says the report.
“Other factors include the costs of developing and deploying automation solutions for specific applications in the workplace, labor market dynamics (including the quality and quantity of labor and associated wages), and the potential for automation beyond labor substitution. benefits, regulation and social acceptance.”
gig economy
Another trend to watch out for is the rise of the gig economy. The gig economy is a labor market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contract or freelance work, as opposed to traditional “permanent employment”.
This trend is fueled by the growth of online platforms such as Uber, Airbnb and Fiverr that connect employees and customers.
The gig economy has been further intensified by the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, giving way to a new but related trend called the passion economy. The World Economic Forum (WEF) says the Passion Economy is where small entrepreneurs monetize their individuality and creativity.
WEF said:
A key reason for the growth of the passion economy is that it offers alternative ways to make money, innovative paths to professional fulfillment, and unprecedented career opportunities. [the youth].
South Africa is currently facing a youth unemployment crisis, preventing many of the country’s young people from participating meaningfully in the economy.
Youth unemployment in South Africa stood at 45.5% in the last quarter of 2022. Reported by Launch LeagueA training hub for entrepreneurs in South Africa.
The report highlights the gig economy as a potential source of income for young people struggling with unemployment.
“Technological disruption provides opportunities to upskill and reskill young people with the right skills and job-related competencies, and direct them towards new income-earning opportunities,” the report said. I’m here.
it adds:
Hubs, incubators, digital skills trainers and entrepreneurial empowerment organizations play a key role in preparing people for the realities of the new economy.
“By developing entrepreneurship, digital technology and gig work skills, they can provide a bridge for young people to transition onto these income paths.”
digital skills
A third trend to watch out for is the increasing demand for workers with digital skills. As technology continues to advance, companies need workers who can leverage digital tools and data to improve operations and decision-making.
reported that Burning glass technologyDigital skills have become essential across a wide range of occupations, including marketing, finance, and healthcare.
This trend is also reflected in the growing demand for jobs in technology-related fields such as software development, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
According to the report, there are three groups of skills that are emerging as important for the digital economy: human skills, digital building block skills, and business enabler skills. We call them “New Fundamental Skills”.
New foundational skills for the digital economy.
The report suggests that current job seekers should pursue strategies to acquire these new foundational skills. Here’s what we advise:
- Identify gaps in your current knowledge of new fundamental skill areas.
- Build these skills with in-house training, boot camps, or educational benefits.
- Learn how to effectively communicate with and learn from your digitally savvy peers.
- Gain experience with adjacent tasks and functions to develop new skills.
- Learn how to demonstrate demonstrable competence in new fundamental skill areas.
soft skills
A fourth trend to watch out for is the importance of soft skills in the jobs of the future. Soft skills are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively with others.
reported that WEFHere are the top 10 skills employers are looking for in 2025.
- Analytical thinking and innovation.
- Active Learning and Learning Strategies.
- complex problem solving.
- Creativity, originality, initiative.
- Leadership and social influence.
- Use, Monitoring and Control of Technology.
- Technology design and programming.
- Resilience, stress tolerance, flexibility.
- Reasoning, problem solving, ideation.
- critical thinking and analysis.
These skills are becoming increasingly important as companies seek workers who can adapt to changing environments and work effectively with others.
