📰 In this issue

🔹 Insider: Exclusive for our community

🔹 Opportunity: Good News: A Decade of Opportunities for Digital Workers

🔹 Trends: Rage Against the “Corporate” Machine

🔹 Tools: Skills Half-Life Plunges to 2 Years

🔹 Sparks: No Fake Act, the Trillion $ mistake, Strong labor market

🗃Insider

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🚀 Opportunity

WEF's Good News: A Decade of Opportunities for Digital Workers

The World Economic Forum has some positive news, especially for digital nomads. According to their compilation of data, there are significant opportunities for knowledge workers and digital economy workers in the next 5 to 10 years. Here are the key points:

In total, 218 job types out of 5,400 are conducive to becoming global digital jobs, representing 73 million of the 820 million global workers which is expected to rise to around 92 million in the next 5 years, skewed towards higher-paying roles.

Many of these potential global digital jobs are well-paid knowledge work roles like software developers, financial risk specialists, marketing managers, accountants, lawyers, etc. Around 40% are in accounting, legal and finance professions.

Technological advancements, such as collaboration tools, cloud computing, and AI/generative AI, are driving the shift towards more digital, remote work. These tools enable people to work effectively from anywhere.

The positives are on both sides of the equation. For employers, distributed global digital work allows access to a broader talent pool worldwide. For workers, it presents opportunities to find jobs independent of geographic constraints.

This scenario is a positive in developed countries, however, facilitating an inclusive global digital workforce needs a core digital infrastructure coupled with education/training, updating workforce policies, and promoting responsible use of technologies by employers.

With all the gloom and doom over Ai replacing the planet, this analysis points to knowledge workers able to leverage digital technologies to perform their roles remotely as part of a globally distributed workforce.

🔥 Why You Should Care - Opportunity abounds, 18 million new jobs
 
🔑 Key Point - Substantial growth opportunities over the next 5-10 years.

📎 Related Resource

• U.S. labor market is shifting toward skilled labor

• Work-from-home: 92 million jobs to be done remotely by 2030

• Transforming Talent Acquisition with the Integration of AI

📉 Trends

Rage Against the “Corporate” Machine

Back in the day, if you thought your job sucked, you could only vent to friends and family about your workplace woes - overtime, the incompetent colleague, the guy in the next cubicle that kind of stinks. But in today's era of easy job apps, there’s another avenue at getting back at your employer through a new phenomenon: "rage applying."

What is rage applying? It's when pissed-off employees impulsively fire off job applications en masse, not because they genuinely want to leave, but as a form of cathartic release. Think of it as symbolic giving the finger to the daily grind. According to a couple of surveys, two-thirds of professionals confessed to rage applying last year. That’s pretty amazing.

This isn’t something that was born yesterday - people have long sought greener pastures amid workplace frustrations - the rise of streamlined online applications has turbocharged the phenomenon. With a simple click, any frustrated employee can shoot off applications to multiple jobs, skipping the hassle of tailoring a résumé or crafting a cover letter that delicately details why GARY FROM IT MAKES EVERYDAY FEEL LIKE MONDAY.

This ease of application, combined with the lingering effects of the Great Resignation's labor shortages, means even a resentful bid for a new gig isn't entirely fruitless. Companies can't simply blow off those rage applications flooding their inboxes. Not that they aren't trying. Applicant tracking systems and AI screening tools help weed out those not seriously pursuing a role. But ultimately, a human touch is required to suss out the truly disgruntled.

So while rage applying might be little more than a fleeting tantrum for most, it's a nuisance today's hiring professionals must contend with. An utterly petty nuisance, but a nuisance nonetheless - the 21st century's version of ranting about Cheryl's inability to refill the damned printer.

🔥 Why You Should Care - Limited chance of success and time wasted. 👇️ 
 
🔑 Key Point - Don’t replace the great resignation with rage applying - 👎️ 

📎 Related Resource

• 90% of U.S. workers have ‘rage applied’ for a job in the last 6 months

• Rage applying to new jobs could set employees up for failure.

• Hate Your Job? Stop ‘Rage Applying’ and Do This Instead

🚀 Tools

Skills Half-Life Plunges to 2 Years - AI Disruption Looms

Ok, now that we have your attention, let’s frame this with a touch of reality. While AI may replace some decision-making, AI is a little weak in qualities like creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership involving human skills. Skills that are becoming more important include critical thinking, logical intelligence, interpersonal skills, and planning/organization.

Before we get into how to hone these skills, here some bullet points to consider:

• A survey of 800 executives and 800 employees by edX found that executives believe nearly half (49%) of the skills in today's workforce won't be relevant by 2025 due to AI.

• 47% of executives believe their workforce is unprepared for the future workplace.

• Within 5 years, 56% of executives estimate their organizations will eliminate over half of entry-level knowledge worker roles because of AI.

• 79% predict entry-level knowledge worker jobs will no longer exist as AI creates new roles.

• 56% say their own roles will be completely or partially replaced by AI.

So here’s what to do:

1. Critical Thinking: 

   Courses in philosophy, logic, or even specific critical thinking workshops available at local colleges or online platforms like Coursera, edX, or LinkedIn Learning. Engage regularly in activities that require decision-making and problem-solving. Playing strategy games, solving puzzles, or even debating can sharpen your critical thinking.

2. Logical Intelligence

   Formal Education like mathematics, computer science, and logic courses are excellent for boosting logical intelligence. Non formal like engaging in logic puzzles, chess, and programming challenges can enhance your logical reasoning skills.

3. Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Intelligence

   Participate in workshops that focus on emotional intelligence, communication skills, and leadership. Engage with mentors and peers to learn from their experiences and receive feedback on your interpersonal skills. This may not be for everyone but regular self-reflection through journaling or meditation can improve self-awareness and emotional regulation.

4. Structured Planning and Organization

   Courses in project management can provide structured techniques for planning and organization.

   Utilize tools and apps designed to enhance productivity, such as Trello, Asana, or Microsoft Planner.

Ultimately, developing these skills involves a mix of learning theories and applying them in real-world situations. Engaging in diverse experiences, both professionally and personally, can greatly enhance these essential skills.

🔥 Why You Should Care - Focus on what you can do that AI can never do…yet.
 
🔑 Key Point - Focus on non-replaceable skills

📎 Related Resource

• The Half-Life of Skills via IBM

• Emeritus - Half-life of skills

• AI Puts The Squeeze On The Shrinking Half-life Of Skills

🚀 Sparks

Article Title

🔥 The job market's strength offers opportunities for career growth
 
🔥 Rebuttal to the No Fakes Act

🔥 Fixable Problem Costs U.S. Businesses $1 Trillion

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