Original Posting (See follow-up response requested below)

Workforce 2010 and Workforce 2020

Workforce 2010

As time move and technology changes, the workforce demands and employers and employees needs continue to change as well. The 2010 workforce was predicted to be more focused on academic qualifications than the skills of the employee. The workforce will be technologically advanced, with employers going for employees who have unique skills and are able to bring something new to the table, as a result, there would be an increased retrenchment of employees who lacked needed skills. It was also foreseen that many employers would be focused on retaining their employees by engaging in organization’s activities (Karoly, & Panis, 2004).

Comment on the correct predictions

One of the most predictions that were made was concerning technological advancement. The year two thousand and ten marked the error of significant changes in operational styles of organizations. Most of the companies shifted from manual recording and processing of data to automated and computerized data. Another accurate prediction was the idea of prioritizing employees with special skills, for employment or promotion. With the introduction of computers in the market, employers wanted people who could easily operate them, this saw many employees especially those who were computer illiterate get retrenched.

Comments on inaccurate predictions

The prediction showed that employers would focus more on academic qualifications rather than the skills, this was not right since both skills and academic qualifications were the centers of focus in 2010. Also, there have not been significant effort on the employers to engage and retain their workers.

Workforce 2020

There will be high information technological advancement and thus, employees with IT skills will be better placed (Landry, et al. 2016). With increasing competition, employers will have to resort to better ways of engaging their workers and making them feel that they are an important part of the organization. Employers will be more of result oriented such that unless the work has to be done in the office, employees will have a flexible schedule allowing them to work from whichever place they are as long as they meet the target. For instance, in healthcare, there will be more of specialized nurses than the bedside nurses (Buerhaus, et al. 2013).

Predictions that I agree with

The rise in globalization and population will demand radical ways of reaching the targeted market. I thus, agree with the fact that workers who have information technology skills will be better placed in the market. Unless managers come up with better ways of retaining their skilled employees and appreciating their efforts, they may lose them to their competitors. If the employees are disciplined enough and have the necessary resources needed to deal with their tasks, there will not be any reason of having them report to the business premises all the time. The solution would be to allow them to work from anywhere as long as they deliver the expected results.

Disagreements

In as much as there will be increased competition in the market, there will also be increased number of jobless people looking for jobs. It is, therefore, wrong to assume that the employers will have to put more efforts to retain the employees. Both parties will equally work harder to overcome the common challenge.

References:

Buerhaus, P. I., Auerbach, D. I., Staiger, D. O., & Muench, U. (2013). Projections of the long-term growth of the registered nurse workforce: a regional analysis. Nursing Economics, 31(1), 13-17.

Karoly, L. A., & Panis, C. W. (2004). The 21st century at work: Forces shaping the future workforce and workplace in the United States (Vol. 164). Rand Corporation.

Landry, M. D., Hack, L. M., Coulson, E., Freburger, J., Johnson, M. P., Katz, R., & Sinnott, P. L. (2016). Workforce projections 2010-2020: annual supply and demand forecasting models for physical therapists across the United States. Physical therapy, 96(1), 71.

Follow up responce requested:

J, so here’s the skinny on unemployment:

We do not have 94 million people unemployed looking for jobs. The fake news of current proclamations would suggest that but we are essentially at full employment. 3% unemployment is full employment since as we are there, the 1% of the 3% are highly volatile unskilled and seasonal workers and those who only marginally seek steady employment. The other 2% are unemployable: homeless, emotionally unable to work reliably, and most of all are retired or in school full time or earn income from unreported means like investments, estates, cash based illegal employment and those not capable of working. Professional and knowledge working openings are going unfilled due to many not keeping their skills updated and relevant to market needs.

If we are at full employment then the issue is really job preference and individual preparedness to work in good jobs and careers. Thoughts? Dr. K.