Futurology: what will the world of work be like?
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 9:08 am
Predicting what life on the planet will be like or what we will be like in 20 or 30 years is foolhardy. Changes in the world occur at an overwhelming speed. So it is quite possible that we will miss our predictions, whatever they may be. Just look at recent history: humanity has advanced more in the last 100 years than in all the other 19 centuries since Christ. We will probably continue to change absurdly in the next 100 years.
However, when we talk about labor relations, the changes over the last two centuries, since the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 19th century, have been less significant. These relations have simply become more formal, with clearer rules for both those who hire and those who are hired. The capital-labor relationship has also evolved and become more friendly and consensual in the relentless search for productivity and balance.
Recently, the extraordinary development of computing and robotics has resulted in a reduction in the number of workers on the factory floor, which has been somewhat offset by the number of jobs created in digital processes. This movement has, of course, increased the demands for training and qualifications.
Another consequence of the digital revolution – and now iran telegram data the pandemic – was remote work, which had already been growing timidly even before COVID-19. After COVID-19, however, this type of arrangement grew exponentially, reaching previously unimaginable levels. It was a leap of several years, driven by the need for social distancing and which, according to experts, will not be reversed once all this is over.
What will the world be like in the second half of this century? Today, doctors are already performing surgeries remotely, global companies are meeting their boards via video call, and workers are solving complicated technical and machine operation problems with a simple video call made from their own cell phones.
Digital media will undoubtedly become even more present in workers’ lives and professional relationships. To keep up with this revolution, it is essential to be aware of the many possibilities that exist. Young people preparing to enter the world of work can take specialization courses in digital technology alongside their technical or university courses to become familiar with traditional tools such as Excel, Photoshop and Word, as well as the many applications specific to each professional activity.
And, although this is a great differentiator in the fierce competition for the best jobs, it is important to remember that the factors that have distinguished human beings for centuries will continue to be essential and decisive in getting a job: character, good manners, empathy, kindness, sobriety, good humor, honesty, self-confidence, ease of relationships, among dozens of other personal attributes.
In addition to all this, the good professional of the future must be eclectic, open to new challenges, and adaptable to adverse situations. He or she must know how to improvise and withstand stressful situations with the conviction that he or she is good enough for something that seems insurmountable. To do this, one must read and be informed. Be a specialist, yes, but above all, be a generalist, with some knowledge of physics, chemistry, astronomy, history, geography, culture, psychology, languages, and other human skills.
It may seem like a lot, and it certainly is. But success will increasingly depend on the individual's ability to understand the world and the millions of possibilities that human beings have. This is a great opportunity for those who want to make a difference. Read, study, seek knowledge on the internet, in history books, in technical courses, in libraries, in good friendships, in conversations and in the company of successful professionals.
It has always been this way: the most prepared, those who interact most with others and who adapt best to diverse and adverse situations will win. “It is an old recipe that will always remain.” Work will change, it is true, but good professionals will continue to conquer new worlds.
However, when we talk about labor relations, the changes over the last two centuries, since the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 19th century, have been less significant. These relations have simply become more formal, with clearer rules for both those who hire and those who are hired. The capital-labor relationship has also evolved and become more friendly and consensual in the relentless search for productivity and balance.
Recently, the extraordinary development of computing and robotics has resulted in a reduction in the number of workers on the factory floor, which has been somewhat offset by the number of jobs created in digital processes. This movement has, of course, increased the demands for training and qualifications.
Another consequence of the digital revolution – and now iran telegram data the pandemic – was remote work, which had already been growing timidly even before COVID-19. After COVID-19, however, this type of arrangement grew exponentially, reaching previously unimaginable levels. It was a leap of several years, driven by the need for social distancing and which, according to experts, will not be reversed once all this is over.
What will the world be like in the second half of this century? Today, doctors are already performing surgeries remotely, global companies are meeting their boards via video call, and workers are solving complicated technical and machine operation problems with a simple video call made from their own cell phones.
Digital media will undoubtedly become even more present in workers’ lives and professional relationships. To keep up with this revolution, it is essential to be aware of the many possibilities that exist. Young people preparing to enter the world of work can take specialization courses in digital technology alongside their technical or university courses to become familiar with traditional tools such as Excel, Photoshop and Word, as well as the many applications specific to each professional activity.
And, although this is a great differentiator in the fierce competition for the best jobs, it is important to remember that the factors that have distinguished human beings for centuries will continue to be essential and decisive in getting a job: character, good manners, empathy, kindness, sobriety, good humor, honesty, self-confidence, ease of relationships, among dozens of other personal attributes.
In addition to all this, the good professional of the future must be eclectic, open to new challenges, and adaptable to adverse situations. He or she must know how to improvise and withstand stressful situations with the conviction that he or she is good enough for something that seems insurmountable. To do this, one must read and be informed. Be a specialist, yes, but above all, be a generalist, with some knowledge of physics, chemistry, astronomy, history, geography, culture, psychology, languages, and other human skills.
It may seem like a lot, and it certainly is. But success will increasingly depend on the individual's ability to understand the world and the millions of possibilities that human beings have. This is a great opportunity for those who want to make a difference. Read, study, seek knowledge on the internet, in history books, in technical courses, in libraries, in good friendships, in conversations and in the company of successful professionals.
It has always been this way: the most prepared, those who interact most with others and who adapt best to diverse and adverse situations will win. “It is an old recipe that will always remain.” Work will change, it is true, but good professionals will continue to conquer new worlds.