(b) Technological innovations New ways of working are possible as advances in Internet and communications technologies mean that people can work online from home or when travelling. E-working refers to working from home for at least part of the week and using the Internet to communicate with colleagues. Low-skilled jobs are becoming fewer as the use of technologies such as automated online services and robotic assembly lines in factories increases. New jobs are becoming available for people with specialist skills in growing areas such as information and communication technologies. For example, jobs in software development, gaming and cloud computing have expanded rapidly in recent years.
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(c) Environmental pressures Demand for ‘green’ jobs is rising in areas such as renewable energy, pollution control and recycling. The economy and workplaces of the future need to be more environmentally friendly.
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(d) Life spans A longer working life is more common. People are retiring later. This is partially because of longer life expectancies but also because pensions and savings are often inadequate to meet financial needs and so people have to work longer.
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Effects of these changes on the workplace are: Less secure employment and fewer permanent jobs or ‘jobs for life’. More transferable skills are needed by employees. Transferable skills are useful skills that you can take with you from one job to another. Examples include computer, financial, marketing and management skills. Transferable skills allow workers to change employers and jobs more easily and frequently. Self-employment and entrepreneurship is growing. In some cases, this is out of personal preference. For others, it is a necessity due to redundancy or lack of employment opportunities. People are working longer and there are additional older people in the workforce. As life spans increase people want to and are able to work longer.
