Future jobs and disruptive technologies

Which jobs are likely to disappear in the future decade and what is the best job in the future? These questions pose critical concerns about the sustainability and viability of future jobs in a globalised digital world. In essence, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Internet of Things are likely to disrupt the fabric of socio-economic system worldwide and GCC as well. We are witnessing trends due to the emergence on robotics, smart city, driverless cars, and artificial intelligence.

These disruptive technologies are likely to make some jobs obsolete. However, are we prepared to cope with such deep transformation in economy and society? Reflecting on the US experience in the last 200 years in technology and agriculture, it was illuminating to note that agriculture used to constitute about 70 per cent of GNP in 1800 and it was reduced in 1990 to about 3pc of GNP. However, this drastic change in US economy did not cause unemployment. In contrast, new jobs were created in the service economy, industry and technology.

For countries in GCC and Bahrain in particular to be prepared for the future job market, a number of measures and reforms need to be adopted that cover education reform, new business model, and culture and mindset. Education reform is imperative to cope with new platforms and models of learning and education in light of open source education, e-learning and distance learning. Quality education for the future is pivotal for future jobs. Future jobs need an education that pays attention to reflection, understanding, imagination, and synthesis. This genuine reform entails redefining what constitutes happiness, success, and good life.

Also, life-long education is key for future educators since there will be multiple sources for learning like U-tube channels and social media and on-line open sources like Khan Academy and Coursera. Hence, the conventional role of teachers is likely to change to be more of a facilitator and convener. Despite the fact that many jobs may vanish or change its nature in the future, education and health care providers will be in demand. Emotional intelligence (not IQ), imagination and empathy will be highly needed in the era of robotics and internet of sensors and Big Data.

New paradigm of learning and education should be developed to enhance multiple intelligences, especially naturalistic intelligence to address the nature-deficit-disorder due to addiction to social media and e-games. New business model is to be developed to cope with disruptive technologies and future jobs’ demands. It is envisioned that future jobs will highly depend on new skills and talents. For example, models of free lance and outsourcing will be on the rise, like the concept of flash organisations that have a mandate to solve specific tasks. The digital space, the web and cloud are offering virtual limitless space and domain for users to be publishers, bloggers, film makers, and researchers.

Team work and work from home for mothers and old people and working less hours are all viable options for policy makers and business owners. Better balance between work and leisure can be attained if we can harness technology in a balanced manner. Teachers, nurses and doctors will always be in demand in the future since quality service depends on human communication and empathy. However, on-line education and virtual universities offer new possibilities for millions of people in remote areas. New business culture and mind set are crucial in shaping the future employee. For example, consumerism and fast pace of life are forcing people live beyond their limits.

This is vividly illustrated in the statement “we work at a jobs that we do not like to buy things that we do not need”. New metrics other than GDP for measuring the health and wealth of nations are needed. Happiness index and sustainability index are attempts to re-define new meaning for work and progress. In sum, the journey from slavery to democracy was unimaginable and unthinkable but was transformative and enlightening. Nevertheless, human civilisation is founded on new ideas and human talent. Future jobs are limitless and can be cultivated by quality education that celebrates diversity, critical thinking and long-life learning.