Technological advancements, especially in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming the way we work and learn. The consultancy McKinsey estimates that up to 800 million workers globally could possibly be displaced by robotic automation by 2030. Some jobs will change dramatically, while others will disappear altogether. So how do we bridge the skills gap in this age of AI?
Sean Gallagher, the executive director of Northeastern University’s Center for the Future of Higher Education and Talent Strategy, says,“I think what’s clear is that there’s a need for some new approaches and that the system we have is not designed for a world that’s being shaped by AI, automation, more rapid job changes, and the need to continuously build skills”. Gallagher says that people will need to constantly update their skills and develop new ones over the course of their careers in order to adapt to the age of automation.
Northeastern University and Gallup conducted a new global survey, it shows strong support for a program that would make it easier for employees to pay for their own education and training. When asked who should be responsible for making lifelong learning more affordable in order to keep up with advances in artificial intelligence, US respondents prefer that employers take on the burden. In the UK and Canada, the respondents preferred that governments help pay.
Studies show that several countries around the world have forged ahead with their own policies to provide lifelong learning opportunities to their workforces. Gallagher pointed to another survey that asked chief executive officers around the world who should take the responsibility to retrain workers as automation continues reshaping the workforce. A majority of chief executive officers in Japan, Germany, and China said that it is a company’s responsibility, but only half of the chief executive officers of the US agreed with it.
Mayuri Talgaonkar