Breda O’Toole
Head of Talent Development and Digitalisation, IDA Ireland
Nowadays, roles may shift more rapidly as business models change and technology revolutionises how we work. So, how do we make the most of our careers?
In a World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, employers report that 39% of key skills required in the job market will change by 2030. The report cites that ‘skills gaps in the labour market are the primary barrier to business transformation’ with the second main barrier being ‘organisational culture and resistance to change.’
What does this mean for workers and their careers? If we stagnate, we are likely to be left behind. However, if we grasp learning enthusiastically and systematically, we are more likely to be able to open ourselves up to many opportunities within the job market.
Working in different sectors
Increasingly, we see workers being hired from different skill bases and backgrounds to meet the needs of enterprise. Workers in tech companies are being hired into the life sciences sector because of the need for digital skills across sectors, for example. Imagine the opportunities that are presenting themselves now, even if your education is not related.
Continue to learn and break through
the skills gap to embrace change.
Maintaining a life-long learning approach
Key skills now for enterprise into 2025 and beyond are technological skills, especially in AI and big data, digital literacy and cybersecurity. Skills in creative thinking, resilience and flexibility are rising in importance. When was the last time that you learned something new or re-learned a skill but had not applied it in any new areas? Life-long learning thrives on the curiosity to explore and embrace new experiences, and that doesn’t just mean in a work context.
Developing key skills
Today, there are many ways to learn. There are virtual courses that you can dip in and out of, microcredentials that you can stack towards a degree, plus mentoring, coaching and job shadowing — and that is only the beginning. Choose the best way you like to learn, and if you are not sure, search for ‘Learning Style Questionnaire’ and complete it. Continue to learn and break through the skills gap to embrace change; this way, you will be the creator of your own skills transformation.
