In 60 percent of all occupations, about a third of the tasks could be automated right now, according to a recent McKinsey study. This is disrupting the workforce in ways we have not seen in more than a century.
From the manufacturing floor to the office, changing technology is eliminating thousands of jobs while creating thousands more. Preparing those people losing their jobs for newly-created jobs remains a challenge and an opportunity.
There is progress being made. Employers, educators, civic leaders, and nonprofits are creating programs to help reskill these displaced workers for jobs now, and they’re helping train younger workers for the jobs of the future. WorkingNation’s Chief Content and Programming Officer Joan Lynch and Editor-in-Chief Ramona Schindelheim discussed this important topic on a recent edition of Fox 11 In Depth with host Hal Eisner.
An important component of the conversation continues to be how we help older workers fit into this new work dynamic. Life expectancy is now close to 79 years, and 40 percent of people between 65 and 69 are still working. How do we help them skill-up for jobs that will be both financially and personally fulfilling? There are good programs out there. For that part of the discussion, Joan and Ramona were joined by Paul Irving, chairman of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging.