New labor market: what professions will disappear and what skills need to be developed
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We asked Olga Zenina, head of career guidance for a large SuperJob information service, as part of the podcast “How is this possible?” talk about how the labor market has changed after the pandemic, which professions are disappearing and which will always be in demand, what new skills specialists need to develop today.
What is happening in the labor market now?
The pandemic has clearly affected the labor market: we have realized how unstable and changeable our life is. During this period, it was important to adapt to changes as quickly as possible in order to stay afloat. Now everything is gradually returning to normal: we see how the number of vacancies and resumes on job search sites is stabilizing, how the level of competition is decreasing. For example, in September 2020, 17 people applied for one vacancy, such statistics were very frightening for both beginners and experienced professionals. If we look at the level of competition today, it is 4 people per vacancy. This means that there is an opportunity for both professionals and graduates to find a job. Therefore, now you need to take the maximum from the labor market, regardless of whether you are continuing your career or just starting.
Which professions will disappear in the near future and what new ones will appear?
Now a lot of professions are being automated, this is one of the labor market trends. In order to check how relevant a particular profession will be in the near future, you just need to imagine whether the robot can perform the same duties on its own. For example, if we take such specialties as a call center operator or a librarian, then their work can be automated. If we call a bank now, then, most likely, not a person will answer us, but an already recorded voice and artificial intelligence, which means this profession will be irrelevant in the future. It is the same with the librarian: for example, in the Lenin Library you are already met not by a person, but by a machine that helps you navigate the building and find the right book.
If we are talking about teachers or psychologists, it immediately becomes clear that we will not replace these specialists with any technology now, and no one will replace human communication, human empathy, human compassion, sympathy, empathy, and the chemistry that occurs between people are also irreplaceable. Accordingly, these professions will only develop and become more and more relevant.
Learn more about the latest jobs and in-demand skills in our free online course Future Jobs: What’s Next for Our Industries.
What skills have employers valued and will value?
Professionalism has always been important, that is, an understanding of what and how you should do, knowledge of the base, the foundations of your specialty, programs. Responsibility is also a key skill, it is with the development of this ability that you need to start your career path.
What new qualities does an employee need today?
Surely everyone has already heard about universal competencies and professional skills, first of all, you need to rely on them. If we go back 20-30 years and remember our parents, grandparents, then probably none of them even thought about what personal qualities a professional in his field should have in principle. Trends are changing, employers have begun to pay more attention to ensuring that a specialist possesses not only professional skills, but also universal ones. “Soft” skills allow you to more successfully solve work tasks and move up the career ladder. The most sought-after competencies for almost all specialties are communication skills and emotional intelligence.
If this article was helpful to you and you want to learn more about what employers are paying attention to in 2021, which competencies are best listed on a resume, and how to make the most of opportunities in your current workplace, then listen to the podcast “How to it’s possible: how to find an interesting job and build a dizzying career” with Olga Zenina. Choose any convenient platform: Google Podcasts , Yandex Music , Apple Podcasts , SoundCloud , Castbox .
