Trend Faster and less predictable technology change makes demand for technical workers volatile

Summary

The talent-policy outlook observes that advanced technologies are defined by rapid change, with shorter times from digital innovation to market adoption and faster product-development cycles. Their direction is also uncertain because of technical complexity, speed and the variety of stakeholders involved. Non-technical factors add further turbulence, including adoption chasms seen in electric vehicles, technology hegemony and security, US-China tensions, tariffs, value-chain restructuring and China's catch-up. Displays, solar power, drones and the metaverse have all dropped off Korea's growth-engine lists after losing competitiveness, and the sharp fall in demand for software developers as AI takes over coding illustrates the coming volatility in labour demand. Because timely supply of technical workers underpins industrial competitiveness, the author calls a flexible supply system essential.