The new technologies of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) have changed the way we work, so it is important to learn new skills to ensure you are not left behind.
“In labour-intensive and potentially hazardous industries like manufacturing and mining, 4IR can increase productivity, reduce incidents of injury and improve long-term worker wellbeing,” says Leigh-Ann Revill, CEO and principal at Chartall Business College.
“Technological advancements make people think that we will replace people with robots. However, the reality is that the need for people does not disappear — but the skills required will inevitably shift and change. We need to make sure our people have the skills they need to take advantage of new opportunities as the journey through the industrial revolutions continues.”
She advises:
- While some jobs may not longer exist due to 4IR, new ones will appear. South Africa cannot exclude itself from 4IR as that will result in the country falling further behind the rest of the world;
- Embracing 4IR will allow us to use automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the internet of things (IoT) to increase productivity and efficiency, reduce costs and improve profits;
- As automation replaces mundane, repetitive and low-skill jobs, we need to have people with necessary skills, including software engineers, software developers, dev-ops, AI and machine learning specialists, and data scientists;
- Soft skills like adaptability, coping with change and emotional intelligence will become more critical; and
- Companies need to adopt training and education programmes, including on-the-job training in new technologies and processes, vocational training for low-skilled workers, online courses, learnerships, apprenticeships and mentoring programmes.
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