BlogRapid technological development and digitalization of the workplace makes it difficult for employees to adapt their skills to the needs of the employer.
The extent of this problem varies in each country, but is particularly problematic in Japan, where 81% of firms (with over 10 employees) encounter difficulties in finding qualified workers, according to the latest OECD data.
Meanwhile, 45% of employees surveyed by OCED think they do not have the skills to be effective at work. This was underlined as an important issue in Mexico, Japan and Korea.
Only 3 out of 10 employees believe they have the skills to cope with.
In Europe, 40% of employers declared in 2013 that they had difficulty finding people with the right skills. This shortage was more common in sectors like production, the OCED report shows.
With the arrival of the fourth industrial revolution or the fast-paced process of digitalisation, technology is transforming the way work and skills of employees need to adapt to these changes.
As computers are becoming more "smart" and more "capable" to accomplish tasks previously performed by people, employees need to develop their skills on what machines can achieve, such as critical thinking and creativity.
A report about future affairs reveals that in 2020 more than one third of the skills that today are considered important will have changed.
To help tackle skills shortages and teamwork on technological change, the report recommends business leaders and governments to take proactive approaches to develop future workforce skills.
