Today’s labor market is establishing an intricate but significant relationship with technology, and with technological advancements shaping almost every aspect of our lives, the question arises of the youth’s future in job security amidst the technological disruption towards traditional industries. Once again, we have come face to face with the age-old question: “Will emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence jeopardize the future of employment?” This is particularly important for the youths, the future of our generation, as they must be aware and prepared for the shifting employment landscape in this rapidly changing environment, something that the previous generations have yet to experience.
For years, historians and journalists alike attempted to predict how the world would look like with the advancement of technology. A scroll through Google will show us results of what people from the 20th century thought our lives would be like in the 21st century. They had imagined us in homes entirely staffed with robots and flying self-driving cars bringing us to work. Yet currently, we still see the existence of humans in this nature of work. We have “yayas” and “housekeepers” who have helped us manage our homes and our kids, helping homeowners with their housework chores, and taxi drivers bringing their passengers to their destinations. Even if we are aided by machines such as self-propelled vacuum cleaners and car sensors and have seen an increase in the use of driverless cars internationally, these jobs have entirely disrupted the labor market. The shift in change from human to automation is slower than what we had imagined, but this does not mean that we can remain complacent and rest on our laurels that we would not be replaced in our lifetime.
The next question that we need to address is “How to innovate so that the youths may remain competitive and relevant enough in the labor market?” With technological advancements innovating at a rapid pace, faster than what we have seen in centuries and more intrusive due to their ability to penetrate every industry, it is about time that we learn to adapt ourselves towards this change. As youths, we still have a lot of years ahead of us when we participate in the employment field. Reflecting upon this may make one feel daunted by the imminent future of the possible shift in demands of the labor market. However, rather than succumbing to this fear, we should see this as both an opportunity and as a challenge to grow and develop ourselves, embracing technology as a companion and proactively engaging ourselves in these emerging technologies.
One might ask, “What must we do to overcome this fear of the unknown?”. The answer is reinvention. The traditional approach of solely immersing ourselves in academic achievements limited to the four corners of our classrooms may no longer be sufficient or significant for youths to secure employment. Employers are now drawn to potential employees with a diverse range of skills mixed with academic, soft skills, and digital literacy. Luckily, with technology, we have access to additional knowledge through online courses and YouTube videos even if we are just in the comfort of our homes. We can also keep a lookout for new networking opportunities like joining NetMission.Asia where we can get to learn from various industry experts, connect with like-minded individuals, and improve our soft skills.
The youths need not be afraid of these emerging technologies. Instead, we should continue to reinvent ourselves through lifelong learning and willingness to adapt to the changing times. By staying informed about industry trends, continuously engaging with communities related to our chosen field, and setting clear goals in life, we can proactively develop the essential skills we need to remain competitive in the job market.