As topics like automation, artificial intelligence, and skills retraining dominate conversations about the future of work, some predict catastrophic job loss and a dystopian future where legions of unskilled workers languish unemployable in the margins. Others, like O’Reilly Media’s Tim O’Reilly, aren’t so pessimistic. They remind us that we’ve been here before and that, rather than simply increasing efficiency and cutting costs, emerging technologies can be used to augment our work and raise the quality of life for the population as a whole.
Managers Aren’t Doing Enough to Train Employees for the Future
While we debate whether machines will replace humans, or simply augment their work, questions arise about whether tomorrow’s workforce that can adapt to changing environments and has skills necessary to be successful. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, that may be where companies falling short. In fact, training and development consistently emerge as one of the areas employees are least satisfied with, and a lack of opportunity for growth and advancement is second only to low pay as a source of work stress. So what can be done? Some recommendations include making training and development a part of both an employee’s job and their manager’s; setting aside dedicated time for training; and reward training efforts.