Fast-advancing digitalization means the digital economy is upon us. Development and learning must augment workforce skills so they can fulfill their job roles suitably.

“There’s never been a better time to be a worker with special skills or the right education because these people can use technology to create and capture value. However, there’s never been a worse time to be a worker with only ‘ordinary’ skills and abilities to offer, because computers, robots, and other digital technologies are acquiring these skills and abilities at an extraordinary rate.”

That digitalization has had and continues to have an impact on modern business is in no doubt. The aforementioned words from Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, authors of “The Second Machine Age”, capture this perfectly. The onward march of technology in our work and personal lives continues, unstoppable as it is. The automobile racked up 50 million users in 62 years, but the mobile phone game Pokémon Go hit the same mark in just 19 days! There is no doubt that as time passes, our work will involve more machines, not less.

Opinions about the extent of the impact vary. Oxford researchers in 2013 opined a 50% automation rate for all US jobs, while 2017 saw McKinsey suggest the possibility of up to 33% of constituent activities to meet the same fortune, leading to huge changes at the workplace and for all workers therein. Whatever be the number, there is no denying that the imperatives for businesses include comprehending new job roles as well as how digital technology penetration is leading to changes in work. Full Article