iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

Technology is rapidly changing the world around us. Nowhere is this more evident than at work where jobs and the skills they require are evolving on a seemingly daily basis. Advancements in analytics, artificial intelligence, and automation promise to help tomorrow’s workers get more done more quickly, freeing them up for more meaningful tasks. The problem: While today’s young workers are ready to embrace Industry 4.0, many don’t feel equipped to do so.

According to the 2018 Deloitte Millennial Survey, just 36% of millennials and 29% of Gen Z believe they are fully prepared with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce. And 10% and 8%, respectively, fear they lack the necessary skills entirely. Many of these skills are, of course, specialized technical ones such as coding and project management. But young workers say they want to brush up on their soft skills as well. These include interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, creativity, and, for Gen Z in particular, aptitude in integrity and ethics.

This focus on soft skills makes sense given where work is headed. As technology takes over and augments basic work tasks, jobs will become more service-oriented. That will put a premium on second-level skills such as adaptability, creativity, and agility, which is why young people are so invested in learning them.