Do New Generation Workers Exist? 10 Essential Skills to Prevent Robots from Taking Jobs

            The McKinsey Global Institute, a management consulting firm, has released a report that feels like a nightmare: by 2030, or in about 12 years, robots could replace up to 800 million jobs worldwide. Therefore, for those of us who earn a living through hard work, instead of continuing to rely on outdated skills for income, it’s time to wake up and equip ourselves with new skills to avoid being replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

           So, how advanced do these skills need to be, and what are they?

You don’t have to search far for answers, as the Institute for the Future (IFTF) at the University of Phoenix has already held discussions on Future Work Skills 2020 to predict future labor market demands and summarized the 10 most important work skills for 2020.

            1. High-level Data Interpretation (Sense-making) Imagine a future where most jobs are occupied by machines; the only advantage human workers will have is what these machines cannot do: complex thinking skills and the ability to make decisions in crisis situations.

            2. Social Intelligence This is another key trait of human workers that even the most advanced machines will never replicate. This skill refers to the ability to understand the emotions and needs of others, to relate well with others, and to foster cooperation.

            3. Novel & Adaptive Thinking The world is changing, and traditional products or services will no longer suffice. Therefore, workers with the ability to create new ideas are highly sought after by many organizations.

            4. Cross-Cultural Competency A borderless world has created diversity in all aspects of society, including the workplace. Workers who understand cultural differences and can operate in diverse contexts will be key to driving future organizational success.

            5. Computational Thinking Basic computer skills, such as proficiency in Microsoft Office, will become essential rather than special advantages. Employers will be looking for programming skills, statistical analysis, and logical problem-solving abilities.

           6. New-Media Literacy Online social media has become an integral part of daily life and is likely to remain so. Therefore, workers who can analyze, evaluate, and create engaging content using new media will be in high demand.

           7. Transdisciplinarity Being skilled in just one discipline is no longer sufficient; workers must adopt a T-shaped skill set, meaning they should have deep knowledge in one area and broad knowledge across multiple fields.

           8. Design Mindset This involves the ability to think and adapt to work environments to achieve goals.
            9. Cognitive Load Management In an era where Big Data plays an increasingly important role, workers must be equipped with skills to filter and prioritize vast amounts of information for practical use.

            10. Virtual Collaboration The interconnected world of the internet has shattered traditional work boundaries, allowing work to be done from anywhere, at any time, and on any device. The challenge is to achieve results and facilitate seamless collaboration, even when team members are in different locations.

Source: www.iftf.org