In the next 5-10 years, we will witness unprecedented changes in the labor market due to emerging technologies. This era of digital transformation requires nations and professionals to actively prepare for necessary retraining.
We live in an era of unprecedented change, where emerging technologies are redefining the employment landscape. The expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT) and biotechnology has generated global interest. We explore how these innovations will affect jobs and key strategies for staying competitive.
Emerging Technologies and Their Definitions.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Represents the ability of a machine to mimic intelligent human behavior.
2. Blockchain: A digital platform that records transactions in an immutable manner.
3. Internet of Things (IoT): Objects that communicate with each other through interconnected devices.
4. Biotechnology: Technological applications of biology divided into different categories such as medical, agricultural and industrial biotechnology.
Comparison with Past Industrial Revolutions.
By looking at past industrial revolutions, we better understand the change. Let's quickly see what were the technologies that characterized the other three Industrial Revolutions according to Dinis Guarda:
- The first Industrial Revolution was caused by the convergence of steam power, letterpress printing and railroads;
- The second Industrial Revolution can be attributed to electric communication, the combustion engine and road transportation;
- The third industrial revolution is triggered by the co-presence of the Internet, renewable energy and sustainable mobility;
- The fourth revolution, as described by Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum, unites the physical, digital and biological worlds. And it is precisely its impact on biology that characterizes the latter.
Digital fabrication technologies, meanwhile, interact with the biological world on a daily basis. According to Erik Brynjolfsson today, "digital technologies are doing for the human brain what the steam engine and related technologies did for human muscle power during the industrial revolution. They are enabling us to rapidly overcome many limitations and open new frontiers with unprecedented speed."
Impact on Labor and Future Prospects
However, this technological transformation is revolutionizing the labor market. Studies indicate the possible automation of half of all paid activities by 2030. This implies a significant retraining of the global workforce.
The Challenge and Solutions: Preparing for Change
The crucial question is whether we will be passive spectators or leading actors in this evolution. Will we control this revolution or be its victims? Adaptation is essential, and companies play a key role by offering staff refresher courses and promoting continuing education throughout their employees' professional careers. It is the only way for companies to survive and thus live with the accelerated pace of techonological change.
Geeks Academy: Innovation in Adapting to Change
Geeks Academy, Europe's first digital training network, has since 2016 developed a division dedicated to corporate professional training, anticipating the need to prepare the workforce for the new demands in the field of: Data Science & AI; Cybersecurity & Cloud; Blockchain & Coding; Gaming & Metaverse. But there's more: through the "Company4Geeks" project, it enables companies to have a de facto talent pool to draw from for new needs.
Adapting to the rapid change of emerging technologies requires widespread collaboration and ongoing efforts to ensure readiness and competitiveness in the evolving work landscape.