The future of jobs

“Emerging and new jobs will involve new tasks and will require new skills — the digital skills.

Digitalization, automation and other technologies are beginning to alter the nature of jobs. Computing power, internet of things, artificial intelligence and robotics, big data and on-line applications are radically shifting the skills required for the job of the future.

While Philippine labor unions are seeking for the end of contractualization and the regularization of workers, companies in the USA particularly the malls, are suffering from a steep decline of receipts with a number either closing shop or drastically downsizing. Even Walmart, an institution in the retail business, has not been spared. The culprit-“internet shopping.”

Quite surprisingly, internet shopping in our country appears to be gaining momentum, despite the deficiencies in our wifi. As our infrastructure catches up with global standards and the logistics improve, we can expect more and more to avoid the traffic jam in the city and the high cost of parking by shopping on-line. Sooner or later, the malls we see will rather maintain warehouses equipped with the latest softwares and hardwares in pursuing their business.

Some industries serviced by BPO may be adequately handled by AI. Even McDonald’s in Europe and Australia have started using automated kiosks inside its premises, doing away with a number of employees.

The overall effect of automation can be disruptive. On average, OECD says that 14 percent of jobs are automated in 32-member countries with a high possibility of said jobs being automated by at least 70 percent. Presently, many aspects of routine jobs can be automated, skill levels notwithstanding. In the future, legal researchers, laboratory and medical diagnosis by technicians, in-house auditors and accountants, among others, will be obsolete as more and more softwares and AI are developed to provide the most accurate results in a snap of a finger.

However, all is not lost. Emerging and new jobs will involve new tasks and will require new skills — the digital skills. These skills refer to the ability to manage, evaluate and create relevant information through digital devices and networked technologies. There are competencies needed in the digital migration. Included here are knowledge of computers; hardware and software; media literacy; communication and collaboration; digital content creation; programming and coding; data analysis and critical thinking and cyber security.

To thrive in the digital economy, it is imperative to develop said digital skills. Government and the business sector should come together to invest in human capital and education to prepare the workforce for the future of work.

Policies should create a roadmap of a lifelong learning, retooling and skills upgrading to help workers take advantage of the new technologies.

It is time for government to seriously harness tripartism where experts from the public, labor and employers sectors can come together each year to agree and adopt a forecast on industry-specific digital skills, gaps and demands to identify the needed profiles and competencies and address deficiencies. A systematic tracking and consistency are necessary in order for forecasts to spot trends and be shielded from politics and the usual discretions from one administration to the other. Participatory and consensual policy should be adopted in formulating the roadmap for a thriving and successful digital economy. Over-regulation has no place for new technologies. Over- regulation in new technologies will surely harm employment.

My next column will discuss what digital migration can do to our MSME.

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