The Future of Work
Work as we know it, is changing. So much so, the phrase “The Future of Work” has become a hot topic and corporate buzzword.
While no one can predict the future with absolute certainty, it is clear that the world of work is changing due to the influence of technological, generational, and social shifts. It already includes Artificial Intelligence and robotics, but it will also involve reskilling and upskilling people more quickly than in the past, leaning on formal training, as well as apprenticeship and mentoring.
Simply put, we are in an economic cycle where jobs, as we know them, are changing. …So where does work experience fit into the “Future of Work”?
Eager to understand the interest or continuing participation of local businesses in hosting work experience and school-based apprenticeships, The Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce recently surveyed our business community with an overwhelming 80% of respondents indicating they were interested in hosting students.
Work Experience was once a rite of passage. A much-deliberated week of freedom, a taste of adulthood requiring answers to some momentous questions. What will I wear? Will there be a workplace willing to take me on? What do I want to be when I grow up? Work experience was something you checked off the list of school life - in year 7 you performed the maypole, in year 10, you spent a week disguised as a grown-up.
The thrill of dressing up in work clothes and the dream of coordinating “lunch” with school friends aside, work experience was something coordinated by the school for all students, with buy-in from local businesses.
Fast forward to being the parent of a driven, ambitious high school student, keen to experience a version of work life that might be for her, or that she might be able to strike off the list of future pathways. Only to discover that somewhere along the way the system changed. In an era where digital natives prioritise experiences and seek purpose in their work, the process has shifted, leaving parents to navigate this journey - and it is a minefield.
The Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce understands the time commitment, the potential impact on productivity and the limited capacity of workplaces to support work experience students is a barrier, but how can we bridge the gap between the business community and students seeking work experience or traineeships because maybe vocation is merely a process of elimination.
Work Experience can improve employable skills, help to build a network and form relationships in a specific sector; and importantly helps young people decide whether a particular sector is a good fit.
Can your business help this next generation – our future of work?