Terms like artificial intelligence, automation, algorithms, big data and virtual reality are no longer simply buzzwords used only by breathy tech geeks, or even starry-eyed entrepreneurs at investor pitches. Technology is fast becoming entrenched as an integral part of our daily lives. In fact, you might say the future is tech.
What does this mean for the modern woman at work, as businesses and industries hurtle towards a tech-centric future? What skills do women need to develop in order to thrive in the workplace of the future?
Tech and the Threat to Women’s Jobs
Tech is bringing a sea change, and like every revolution, undeniable impact to jobs and careers. Among other predictions comes this rather dire one from the International Monetary Fund, which states that 11 per cent of jobs currently held by women are at risk of elimination because of AI and other digital technologies.
Additionally, a recent report by research firm McKinsey Global Institute estimates that between 40 million to 160 million women around the world will be expected to navigate a career change by 2030. These changes, prompted by automation in industry, will see more women moving into higher-skilled jobs.
McKinsey warns that failure to make the transition is likely to exacerbate the existing inequalities that women face in the workplace.
However, to make the transition successfully, candidates will likely need higher levels of education – and the right set of skills to employ in the workplace.
Here are 5 critical skills needed: