Written by Rose Mary Stalker, Chair of Invest NI
Technology has enabled unprecedented change in the way we live, the world of work and how people can earn a living. The pace of change is relentless and accelerating!
The concept of a “job for life” no longer exists. Now, it is estimated that most people will have at least 3 careers in their working lifetime. And many of those careers have yet to be established.
For a child starting school now, by the time they leave in 10 or 12 years, it is estimated that around 60% of their potential career options don’t exist today. It is not only jobs which will change, it will also be the nature of work. As automation and digitisation increasingly enable machines to perform routine tasks and many of today’s jobs disappear, people’s roles will focus on added-value activities and where softer skills such as communications, empathy and relationships are increasingly important.
Whatever the jobs of the future may be, to address the challenges of decarbonisation, digitisation, automation and the Internet of Things, it is inevitable that STEM-related subjects will be in strong demand. However, we are still not producing the right skills mix to meet today’s demand, let alone our future needs. Computer Science and Information Systems are amongst our most undersupplied degree subjects – yet these are where the current and future opportunities lie.
Currently only 14.8% of women pursue core STEM subjects, and are particularly underrepresented in computer science (16%). Despite women making up almost half the workforce, only 11% of engineering professionals are female and female representation in non-traditional, STEM occupations remains low, particularly in senior roles.
Young girls, in particular, are put off pursuing these career options largely due to self-confidence issues, a fear of numbers and data, stereotypes, and the perceived attractiveness of the sector. This is an issue we must address. And it also places challenges on us all, not just new entrants to the workforce but also those already in employment, for whom continuous training and life-long learning are becoming the norm.
Invest NI works directly with companies to help them upskill and re-skill their existing employees through our Skills Growth programme, which has supported over £220m of investment in skills over the past 8 years. Whilst our GATE (Gaining Access to Employment) initiative incentivises companies to employ disadvantaged workers in order to help address economic inactivity and underemployment.
We also work closely with government departments on wider approaches to encourage the economically inactive into the workforce, and to promote a greater uptake of apprenticeships and higher level apprenticeships. Alongside the Department for the Economy we have helped develop the Assured Skills programme and a range of academies - key propositions to support the growth of local and international companies, by guaranteeing an available and relevant skills base.
Employers also need to respond to the changing nature of work and consider their total employment proposition as the war for talent heats up. Employees, either entering or already in the workforce, expect opportunities for personal growth, variety and flexibility and, increasingly an employer with ethical work practices and a strong social conscience.
International research also shows that employers committed to proactively addressing gender gaps by embedding diversity strategies create a more inclusive, respectful and meritocratic employment culture. That’s important because diverse workforces are more efficient, more productive, more competitive and, ultimately, more profitable.
Currently the attractiveness of certain careers is based on history, not the demands of the future. A good job in the past may not necessarily be a good job of the future. In fact, it may not even exist. We all have a role to play to put Northern Ireland where we aspire it to be.
Given the frantic pace of change, young people, parents, education providers and business, all need to challenge the conventional norms and to prepare all of society for the future of work, through support, signposting, and the showcasing of role models.
The challenge for us all is to help individuals, regardless of age, gender, ability or any other parameter, to be the best version of themselves. In doing so, we will help them increase their self-worth, grow their contribution to the economy and wider society and ultimately improve Northern Ireland’s global competitiveness.
This article first appeared in the Women in Tech special edition of the Sync NI magazine. You can download a FREE copy here.
