The Changing Nature of Work
The onset of the digital age has meant that the nature of work is also changing at an unprecedented rate. “Disruptive” is the new buzz-word, with companies harnessing technology to shake up conventional industries. The revolutionising of processes and industries underlies a bigger question: how will the structural nature of work be changed? Are we doing enough to prepare our children with skills that can adapt to the demands of a changing economy?
The advent of the digital age has far-reaching implications. The rise in disruptive technologies is amidst a wider decline of single skill-set jobs and an accompanying shift toward roles where soft-skills and mathematical skills are paramount.
[1] A collaborative approach in the workplace also favours job-seekers with trans-disciplinary skills that are required to inform decision-making about complex problems.[2] With jobs being gradually phased out due to disruption and automation, the ability to think critically and synthesise complex ideas will be a necessity.
The pace at which global trends emerge also means that our younger generation will develop a global sensitivity and be up to date with current affairs. Businesses like Airbnb have disrupted traditional industries such as the hotel industry, threatening jobs in hospitality, for example, by allowing homeowners to rent out their homes to strangers.
An education that encourages a love of learning, or a wider sensitivity to global trends, is thus an essential first step that complements the spirit of innovation that is highly prized in the changing world economy.
It is also worth noting a gradual shift in the nature of work away from conventional nine-to-five employment [3]. With a rise in those who opt for freelance or project-based careers, work is likely to become less singular and more multi-faceted over the next generation.
It is likely that multiple careers during the lifetimes of the younger generation will become the norm, and a curriculum that encourages broad-based thinking will stand our younger ones in good stead by encouraging them to explore a diverse range of interests.
At Creative Campus, we continually complement the teaching of English with current affairs to encourage a wider love of learning. We are aware of the stringent and challenging requirements of the school syllabus and additionally, the skillsets and love for learning we wish to inculcate in the children that will maximise their opportunities for success.
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[1] Kruchoski, P. 10 skills you need to thrive tomorrow – and the universities that will help you get them. (2016, August 19). World Economic Forum.
[2] Torkington, S. The jobs of the future – and two skills you need to get them. (2016, September 2). World Economic Forum.
[3] Thompson, D. A World Without Work. (2015, July/August). The Atlantic.