Thursday, December 14, 2017

How the Workforce, Cities, and Education Are Poised for Change: Stephane Kasriel

An abstract look at an urban building. Downtown urban skyscraper angles with metal, concrete and steel. Commercial business center with office windows and corporate headquarters.

Earlier this year, Dell Technologies predicted that 85 percent of jobs that will exist by 2030 haven’t been invented yet. How do we change our traditional systems to meet demands we can’t even anticipate a decade out?

“The workplace is evolving and we must finally break free from the industrial-era habits of the post to ensure a more productive and equitable future.”
— Stephane Kasriel, CEO, Upwork

In “4 predictions for the future of work,” Upwork CEO Stephane Kasriel considers some of the significant shifts he sees on the near horizon.

1. AI and robotics can generate more jobs, if we innovate responsibly

It’s inevitable that some jobs will become obsolete. However, instead of unemployment, Kasriel anticipates the growth of AI and robotics will lead to a shortage of people with the skills needed to do the work. However, he also points out that it’s up to humans to set the course.

“The impact of AI on the future does not, in fact, spell doomsday for jobs,” Kasriel said. “After all, machines don’t create themselves. Rather it’s up to us to responsibly guide innovation—opening up new windows of opportunities, not eliminating them.”

2. Cities will take the lead in the battle for talent

If we’re headed toward an even steeper talent shortage, how will companies bridge the gaps? The answer might be “location, location, location.”

When Amazon launched its search for a home for a second headquarters, it highlighted not just how many cities have a lot to offer to companies but how varied the options are for the people doing the work.

“As technology untethers society, and remote work becomes the norm, people will live in the cities of their choosing, rather than the ones that are nearest to where they work,” Kasriel said. “The cities of their choosing will have that certain ‘vibe’ by offering attractive living options in tech-friendly environments.”

3. The freelance economy will continue to grow

Based on current workforce growth rates, the recent “Freelancing in America: 2017” report from Upwork and Freelancers Union estimated that the majority of the U.S. workforce will freelance by 2027.

It’s a shift that gives workers the independence to choose when and where they want to work, and a growing number of top performers are choosing to be their own boss. At the same time, the need for talent is already driving more companies toward the large-scale adoption of freelancers.

4. The way students learn will need to change

“The way we educate future generations no longer adequately prepares them for the skills and jobs of today,” Kasriel said. What’s needed, he says, is a breakdown of silos within the existing model for education.

“Project-based schools, many offered by technology experts, are cropping up,” he said. “We will rethink the way talent is developed and deployed, and prepare students for a lifetime of learning better paced to the rapid evolution of skills.”

To learn more about Kasriel’s predictions, read the full article…

The post How the Workforce, Cities, and Education Are Poised for Change: Stephane Kasriel appeared first on Upwork Blog.



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