The rise of technology has transformed the labor market, leading to the automation of jobs and processes, on the one hand, and the emergence of new sought-after jobs, on the other. The change in the way we work is happening faster than ever. Employees and businesses are adapting to a number of economic challenges posed by the health crisis, the technological revolution and climate change. This change has turned digital skills into key competencies for the labor market, said Milen Ganev, a partner in Bulgaria's E-CARD, which is in the top 50 software companies of Europe.
According to a report by the World Economic Forum, by 2022, 54% of employees globally will need retraining or skills development. The European Commission expects that in 2020, 90% of jobs will require digital skills. But a large proportion of organizations (88%) have not taken concrete steps to address the lack of digital skills in their teams. Companies in Central and Eastern Europe that have introduced cloud technologies report a 35% increase in demand for digitally skilled employees compared to companies that have not started working on the cloud. But businesses are facing a crisis: only 3.5% of employees in the region today fully meet the digital needs of organizations. Given this fact, business leaders should perceive qualification programs as critical to the company's mission, not as an operational investment.
Without the right people in the right roles, businesses will struggle to adapt to remain competitive and innovative. New skills are essential for recovery, transformation and growth, commented Milen Ganev. Firms that invest in training report a 24% higher profit margin. Some employees are of the opinion that professional development, especially in terms of digital competencies, can be initiated by themselves.
According to Deloitte, through training, organizations invest in the necessary qualifications of their employees. Lifelong learning is a goal that, in order to be achieved, must be part not only of the work process, but also of people's way of life, adds Milen Ganev from E-CARD.
A study by the Pew Research Center shows that 85% of respondents find the so-called "soft skills" - skills that provide opportunities for effective and harmonious interaction with other people, extremely important in everyday work. In other words, people-centered approaches are as crucial as they have been so far - perhaps even more so, given their continued importance at a time when technology is evolving at a furious pace.
Based on the need to develop and strengthen strong personal skills, Microsoft, LinkedIn and GitHub have created special training channels to help employees learn successfully. The ability to develop qualities such as listening effectively, focusing, and adapting to unexpected changes are just some of the things people need to learn, both through training and practice.
Also, creativity, critical thinking, remote and virtual teamwork are skills that are crucial for any organization, explained Milen Ganev. The reality today calls for a transformation of the workforce. This was one of the most discussed topics at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Perhaps one of the most successful summaries of today's reality is that the jobs of the future may have been created by technological advances, but they are extremely humanistic and man is at the center of their functioning.