The evolution of the workforce during the fourth industrial revolution

ABSTRACT

In the first quarter of the twenty-first century, society has embarked on a period of dramatic transformation, often described as the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). It is characterized by the proliferation of increasingly complex technologies that are bringing together the physical, digital, and biological worlds (e.g., 3D printing, robotics, and the internet of things). Collectively, these capabilities are having an impact on all sectors of the economy and challenging existing social systems. The result is a fundamentally new period for human life and societal institutions. This research sought to explore the implications of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) on the workforce, with a specific focus on the reskilling required to prepare for the future of work. By engaging leaders across the private sector, educational institutions, government organizations, and those playing a cross-sector role (e.g., public–private partnerships), this research explored the key challenges and areas of opportunity associated with new workforce skill development.

KEYWORDS:

• Fourth industrial revolution
• future of work
• workforce readiness
• workforce reskilling
• workforce upskilling
• workforce transformation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).