FUTURE WORK SKILLS - 2020
This section has reference to research done by the Institute for the Future (IFTF) to address issues as diverse as future science and technology, the future of organizations, and the future of education.
Drivers that would bring big disruptive shifts that are likely to reshape the future landscape. Although each driver in itself is important when thinking about the future, it is a confluence of several drivers working together that produces true disruptions. The six drivers as the most important and relevant to future work skills are
1. Extreme longevity: Increasing global lifespans change the nature of careers and learning
2. Rise of smart machines and systems: Workplace automation nudges human workers out of rote, repetitive tasks
3. Computational world: Massive increases in sensors and processing power make the world a programmable system
4. New media ecology: New communication tools require new media literacies beyond text
5. Superstructed organizations: Social technologies drive new forms of production and value creation
6. Globally connected world: Increased global interconnectivity puts diversity and adaptability at the center of organizational operations
TEN SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE
1. Sense Making - Ability to determine the deeper meaning or significance of what is being expressed
2. Social Intelligence - Ability to connect to others in a deep and direct way, to sense and stimulate reactions and desired interactions
3. Novel and Adaptive Thinking - Proficiency at thinking and coming up with solutions and responses beyond that which is rote or rule-based
4. Cross Cultural Competency - Ability to operate in different cultural settings
5. Computational Thinking - Ability to translate vast amounts of data into abstract concepts and to understand data-based reasoning
6. New Media Literacy - Ability to critically assess and develop content that uses new media forms, and to leverage these media for persuasive communication
7. Transdisciplinarity - Literacy in and ability to understand concepts across multiple disciplines
8. Design Mindset - Ability to represent and develop tasks and work processes for desired outcomes
9. Cognitive Load Management - Ability to discriminate and filter information for importance, and to understand how to maximize cognitive functioning using a variety of tools and techniques
10. Virtual Collaboration - Ability to work productively, drive engagement, and demonstrate presence as a member of a virtual team.