A study published by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources revealed that 65% of primary school students today will work in jobs and professions that are not currently present, expecting the world to witness major changes in the workplaces themselves, which means that traditional jobs will become less common, especially in The technological leaps continued to contribute to the emergence of the so-called self-employment economy.

The study - which was prepared by the American University of Sharjah - confirmed that the employers are seeking from the present time to search for employees with what are called "21st century skills", which include various aspects, most notably critical thinking, creativity, cooperation, communication, flexibility, leadership, and productivity, adding The acquisition of these skills has become more important, than the educational qualifications.

In detail, a study published by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, in the latest issue of the Echo of Human Resources magazine, expected that the labor markets will witness a significant change during the next five years, thanks to future technological developments, explaining that «whatever the profession or industry, everyone must Realize the magnitude of the rapid change in the labor markets today. It must also be realized that the future workforce, as well as the workplaces and jobs themselves, will differ from what they are today.

The study - prepared by the Director of Executive Education at the American University of Sharjah, Illini Babylonia - stated that without a doubt, companies, businesses, governments, schools, universities, and many public and private sector institutions play essential roles in preparing individuals and societies for the future of work, which is intended for the period of The next 5 to 15 years, pointing out that «despite the fact that this future period is simple, it is important to recognize the accelerating pace of change in the world of work today.»

The study, titled "Future Work Skills", indicated that "accelerated technological development has unlimited effects on workplaces, manpower and job skills, but the digital revolution that the world is currently experiencing is taking place at a rapid pace that was previously unimaginable." The pace of this change makes there is a greater need for individuals and companies to reshape their skills, stressing that “if they do this within five years from now, they will be very late.”

She said that «the current jobs and professions will witness a fundamental change, as some estimates indicate that 65% of primary school students today, will work in jobs and professions that are not currently present. And if most of these jobs do not exist, then the world is also expected to witness major changes in the traditional workplaces themselves, which means that they will become less common, especially in light of the contribution of technological leaps to the emergence of the so-called self-employment economy, and the low numbers of jobs that require the presence The operator in a specific geographical area at a specific time. Perhaps the biggest change in all of this will happen to the workforce itself. ”

The study added: “Although having the ability to raise the degree of skill will determine a person’s success in the future world of work, there are basic skills that business owners will greatly value, and is often referred to as the 21st century skills, which are skills that will be Required from employees, including critical thinking, creativity, cooperation, communication, flexibility, leadership and productivity, along with social skills, information awareness, media awareness and technology awareness. ”

She emphasized that «business owners are searching for these skills when selecting new employees, especially that having them has become equal, or more important, than the educational qualifications the employee gets, because they will become more beneficial to institutions in any job».

The study indicated that most of the government and private sector employers in the Middle East region have already started investing in the workforce with great enthusiasm to be equipped with the skills of the 21st century, and governments are putting large sums of money in order to acquire the population and workforce in their countries for these skills.

The study said: “In the UAE, a lot of investment is directed towards providing young citizenship generations with the skills needed to face future labor market challenges, and achieving the main goals of the vision of 2021 and the UAE centennial 2071”, explaining that “this trend is evident through many qualification programs for young citizens Such as the "Emirates Skills" competition, "the National Artificial Intelligence Program", the "One Million Programmer" initiative, "Hackthon Emirates", and other programs and initiatives.

She emphasized that «the skills of the 21st century can be seen as global skills. Also, the nature of these skills suggests that they are applicable regardless of the regional context. However, every society and every culture has its own nuances, which require a specially designed approach, when it comes to preparing skills for the future. Productive, and then happier at work. ”

The study said, "This type of employee tries to show her interest in the job and does a lot of work, which leads to a decrease in their absence rates by 41%, compared to an increase in their production rates by 17%." Noting that "the happiness of the employees depends on a careful mix of factors Several, other than just tapping into skills. ”

She added, “Appreciating work and contributing to something big are just two other key factors to feel happy in the workplace. However, the issue of skills and a sense of happiness in the workplace is gaining more momentum, with a better understanding and awareness of the long-term effects of the importance of awareness of employee skills. ”

- The low number of jobs that require a worker

In a specific area during a specific time.

Major changes in traditional workplaces.

This means that it will become less common.

"The Skills of the 21st Century":

■ Critical thinking

■ Creativity

■ cooperation

■ Communication

Flexibility

■ driving

Productivity

■ Social skills

Informational awareness

■ Awareness of the media

Technological awareness