Trend Technology and globalisation eroding low-paid and routine office work

Summary

The report sees technological progress and globalisation combining to push low-paid, low-skilled flexible jobs out of the economy at an increasing rate. The shift is not confined to low-wage work, since many kinds of office roles are also changing and can be handled by smaller teams. Worldwide, automation and digitalisation are altering the content of jobs and raising demand for technical and analytical skills. As a result, demonstrable skills appear to be gaining weight relative to formal education and diplomas, and micro-credentials for short training modules are growing in popularity. Firms and governments acknowledge that existing education and training systems are poorly prepared for rapid technological change, so they are investing more in retraining and lifelong learning. The report adds that these changes do not by themselves close the gap between the top and bottom of the labour market.