What is the Future of Work? | World Economic Forum

Summary

The script envisions a future where digital transformation reshapes the workplace, with AI and robots enhancing creativity and ingenuity. By 2025, technology may displace 85 million jobs but create 97 million new ones, including drone piloting and coral farming. The emphasis is on reskilling for a future that prioritizes soft skills, well-being, and environmental sustainability, promising a more human-centered work environment.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The future of work is envisioned with advanced technologies like flying cars and holograms, but the digital transformation poses challenges in understanding its practical implications.
• 💡 The potential of technology, such as AI and robots, is to augment human ingenuity and creativity by removing redundant tasks, allowing for higher-level thinking.
• 🔮 By 2025, technological advancements may displace 85 million jobs, but also create 97 million new roles, reflecting a significant shift in the division of labor among humans, machines, and algorithms.
• 🛫 The emergence of drone technology is creating new industries and jobs, including drone piloting, with applications in improving supply chains and delivering essential services like medicine.
• 🏫 The establishment of drone academies in Africa addresses the skill gap and provides training for high-tech jobs in the region.
• 🤖 Automation is often perceived negatively as job-stealing machines, but it can lead to better standards, more skilled jobs, and opportunities for traditional jobs to evolve.
• 🛠️ The fourth industrial revolution requires learning new skills, similar to the adaptation during the first industrial revolution, with a focus on understanding software and robotics.
• 📈 Reskilling will be crucial for the transition to new jobs, with many companies investing in training for a secure future, expecting a return on this investment.
• 🌐 Self-education has become more accessible and affordable through the internet, offering a variety of resources for learning at one's own pace.
• 🧠 While digital literacy is essential, soft skills such as self-awareness, self-management, emotional intelligence, and community will be at the core of the future workforce.
• 🌱 The care economy and green technology sectors are growing, with jobs focusing on well-being and sustainability, like coral farming, which uses technology to address environmental challenges.

Q & A

What is the general perception of the future of work as it becomes more digital?

The future of work is perceived as increasingly digital, with a mix of excitement and apprehension. It is imagined to be filled with advanced technologies like flying cars and holograms, yet there is a sense of uncertainty about how to fit into this new landscape.

How can technology like robots and AI be viewed in the context of the future workplace?

Technology, including robots and AI, can be seen as tools that help remove redundant tasks from our daily lives, allowing us to focus on higher-level thinking and creativity.

What is the projected change in job displacement and creation by 2025 due to technological advancements?

By 2025, it is projected that 85 million jobs may be displaced due to technological advancements, but at the same time, 97 million new jobs may emerge, reflecting a new division of labor between humans, machines, and algorithms.

What is an example of an emerging industry that is creating new job opportunities?

One example of an emerging industry is drone piloting, which is being used to improve supply chains, such as delivering medicine in Malawi where road transit is not possible.

How are drone academies in Benin and Sierra Leone addressing the skill gap in Africa related to drone technology?

Drone academies in Benin and Sierra Leone are training individuals in high-tech skills related to drone technology, thus addressing the skill gap and preparing the workforce for opportunities in this emerging market.

What is the common fear associated with automation and how can it be mitigated?

The common fear associated with automation is job loss. However, this fear can be mitigated by understanding that technology will lead to better standards, more skilled jobs, and more opportunities, with traditional jobs transitioning into new and exciting roles.

What is the significance of reskilling in the transition to the future of work?

Reskilling is crucial as it helps workers adapt to the changing job landscape. It is expected that the share of core skills for people working today may change by up to 40% in the next five years, making continuous learning and upskilling essential.

How has the internet facilitated self-education and the learning of new skills?

The internet has made self-education more accessible and affordable through a variety of resources such as workshops, courses, ebooks, training, one-on-one mentorship, and peer groups, often available at low costs.

What role will soft skills play in the future workplace?

Soft skills will be at the core of the future worker. As hybrid remote working becomes more common, self-awareness, self-management, emotional intelligence, and the ability to foster well-being and community will be highly valued.

How is the care economy expected to grow and evolve with the focus on well-being in society?

The care economy is expected to grow significantly due to an aging population and a societal focus on well-being. This includes care for the elderly, vulnerable, and children, with jobs in this sector becoming more common as investment moves towards social infrastructure.

What is an example of a job that combines technology with environmental care, and how does it work?

Coral farming is an example of a job that combines technology with environmental care. Devices like Charm use artificial intelligence to automate tasks such as cleaning, feeding, and maintaining coral, allowing for large-scale coral restoration with less labor intensity.