It’s work – but not as you know it
Once upon a time, getting a job used to go like this: finish school, go to uni (or TAFE), graduate, get a job, work your way through the ranks, eventually retire. Today? Not so much. That work – what we do, and how and where we do it – is changing.
Here’s just some of the ways our work force is shifting and all the exciting opportunities to upskill, explore new interests or even change career direction to meet these new changes head-on.
Welcome to the automation generation
According to McKinsey and Company, up to 46 per cent of Australian work activities could theoretically be automated by 2030. That doesn’t mean 46 per cent of jobs will become fully automated (current estimates suggest roughly five per cent of jobs are poised for full automation), but it’s still a reasonable chunk of the tasks that people are paid to do.
What does it mean for you?
Time for a skills assessment. Have a think about the job you currently do and which aspects of it have the potential to be automated in future. What will you be asked to do in place of those tasks, and do you have the skills you need in order to stay relevant? (Hint: social, emotional and advanced cognitive skills are likely to be in high demand.) Don’t have them? It’s never too late to upskill or reskill.
Technology is changing jobs – but it’s creating them, too
One of the concerns about technological disruption is that it will make certain jobs obsolete and shifting direction for others. But, while that’s sometimes true, technology also creates new jobs, often at a higher rate than it takes them away – a 2011 McKinsey study showed that the internet created 2.4 jobs for every one it displaced. What’s more, digital disruption means that some of the jobs that will emerge over the next few years will be entirely new – as in, haven’t-existed-before new.
What does it mean for you?
New opportunities. Whether you’re happy in your current role or on the look-out for your next career step, there’s a good chance that digital disruption might result in some new employment options, as well as specialist shortages in certain fields. But if you want to be ready for what’s coming down the pipe, you need to be proactive. Do your research and get a sense of how your skills might fit with future roles that interest you. If you need extra experience or qualifications, get them – find a mentor, engage with professional development opportunities, take a short course or study online.
Learning is now a lifelong proposition
Technology might be revolutionising our workplace, but it’s also revolutionising the way we keep pace with change. According to Deloitte, frequent job changes, longer life expectancies and careers, plus the fact that our skills are becoming obsolete at ever-increasing rates means that we all need to start thinking about learning as a lifelong endeavour. In fact, Deloitte also named improving learning and development as their top-rated human capital trend for 2019.
What does it mean for you?
In future, attending an annual conference or fulfilling CPD hours that are mandated by your profession may not cut it. Instead, we all need to make education and professional development part of our day-to-day lives in order to keep our skillsets agile and responsive to the changing world of work.
The good news? For Spring 2020 (July - December 2020), select UTS Graduate Certificates will be subsidised by the government as part of the 2020 Higher Education Relief Package. This means significant discounts towards your study. Course content responds to national priority areas – including education, health, science, engineering, information technology and the built environment – where there’s an urgent need for highly skilled professionals.
Looking for something different? We also have a range of online short courses from across the university that will equip you with the in-depth knowledge, skills and expertise to enhance your career.
Ready, set, go
Invent you with a UTS Postgraduate Higher Education Certificate or short course
Applications for Higher Education Certificates close on the 12th July 2020
