The other day, a friend and I were talking about how our parents experienced work compared to how we experience work. His parents could not understand why he was having difficulty “keeping a job” after leaving a role where he had worked for less than three years. I told him that I could relate. My father worked for one employer for 30 years and retired with a good pension and when I told him that I was planning to leave my first major job after graduating university (where I had worked for seven years), he questioned my decision. The changing nature of work means that we are entering a post baby boomer workplace. Rather than fear the changes of globalization, technological advancements, and automation, this is a time of opportunity for those who embrace uncertainty with courage and flexibility.
How optimistic do people feel about the changes in today’s workplace? RBC’s recent report from October 2018, Canadian youth report feeling hopeful, but nervous about future employment opportunities: new survey, made an attempt at answering that question:
“An RBC survey of more than 2,000 Canadians aged 15-24 has found that across every province and major city, youth are feeling hopeful, but nervous about their future employment prospects. To help young people grow their confidence, RBC Future Launch has created RBC Upskill, an online resource using the most current Canadian labour market data to help young people understand how their past experiences and current skills will help prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.”
For more information on RBC Upskill and to read the rest of the report, check out the following link.
In Alberta, for instance, there are currently a number of careers in demand across a number of different sectors:
Health Care
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Dental Hygienists & Dentists
- Family Physicians and Specialists
- Massage Therapists
Finance & Business Administration
- Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers
- Advertising, marketing and public relations
Accommodations & Food Services
- Cooks, restaurant and food services supervisors and managers
- Hotel desk clerks, housekeepers
Education
- Early childhood educators and assistants
More information on careers in demand in Alberta can be found at Labour Market Information (LMI) in Alberta , or emerging occupations in Alberta.
It is true; this is not my parent’s workplace. The world continues to change as a result of globalization, technological advancements, and automation. Rather than feel anxious about the changing nature of work, I see this as a time of opportunity for those who embrace the future with curiosity when faced with change – for those who demonstrate persistence despite times of setbacks, those who are flexible with an optimistic attitude about the changing nature of work, and who are willing to take risks and be rewarded for taking calculated risks.