Trends Identified
Technological breakthroughs
Automation, robotics and AI are advancing quickly, dramatically changing the nature and number of jobs available. Technology has the power to improve our lives, raising productivity, living standards and average life span, and free people to focus on personal fulfilment. But it also brings the threat of social unrest and political upheaval if economic advantages are not shared equitably.
2017
Workforce of the future The competing forces shaping 2030
PWC
Demographic shifts
With a few regional exceptions the world’s population is ageing, putting pressure on business, social institutions and economies. Our longer life span will affect business models talent ambitions, and pension costs. Older workers will need to learn new skills and work for longer. ‘Re‐tooling’ will become the norm. The shortage of a human workforce in a number of rapidly‐ageing economies will drive the need for automation and productivity enhancements.
2017
Workforce of the future The competing forces shaping 2030
PWC
Rapid urbanisation
By 2030, the UN projects that 4.9 billion people will be urban dwellers and, by 2050, the world’s urban population will have increased by some 72%. Already, many of the largest cities have GDPs larger than mid-size countries. In this new world, cities will become important agents for job creation.
2017
Workforce of the future The competing forces shaping 2030
PWC
Shifts in global economic power
The rapidly developing nations, particularly those with a large working‐age population, that embrace a business ethos, attract investment and improve their education system will gain the most. Emerging nations face the biggest challenge as technology increases the gulf with the developed world; unemployment and migration will continue to
be rampant without significant, sustained investment. The erosion of the middle class, wealth disparity and job losses due to large‐scale automation will increase the risk of social unrest in developed countries.
2017
Workforce of the future The competing forces shaping 2030
PWC
Resource scarcity and climate change
Demand for energy and water is forecast to increase by as much as 50% and 40% respectively by 2030. New types of jobs in alternative energy, new engineering processes, product design and waste management and re‐use will need to be created to deal with these needs. Traditional energy industries, and the millions of people employed by them, will see a rapid restructuring.
2017
Workforce of the future The competing forces shaping 2030
PWC
Asian economies are booming, with a growing services sector and rising incomes
Asia’s population and economy is booming, including the major emerging economies in South-East Asia. Asia’s share of global GDP grew from 23.2% in 1990 to 38.8% in 2014 and it is predicted to continue ascending to nearly 45% by 202582.
2017
Surfing the digital tsunami
Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Growing dominance of relatively young digital tech corporations
Relatively young digital technology corporations now dominate the world’s top ten companies, with Apple heading the list, followed by Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook18.
2017
Surfing the digital tsunami
Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
More births, fewer deaths and increased overseas migration
The global population is predicted to increase to 8.5 billion in 2030, to 9.7 billion in 2050, and then to 11.2 billion in 210093.
2017
Surfing the digital tsunami
Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Global urbanisation and growing number of megacities
In the 1950s, about 70% of the world’s population lived in rural areas, and the rest in urban settlements. Today, more than half the population (54%) lives in an urban area and this number is projected to reach at least 66% by 2050
2017
Surfing the digital tsunami
Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Emerging service and knowledge economies
Coming out of the mining boom, Australia continues to grow the service sector and knowledge economy. The labour upskilling trends across Australian industries provides evidence of the rise of the knowledge economy1. At the same time, service industries are growing faster.
2017
Surfing the digital tsunami
Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)