Workforce faces change
Trainer tips new roles to emerge as technology takes hold
ADVANCING technology may replace the role of humans in some jobs but the world has been through this workforce change before. As in the past, new roles will come to the fore.
Since our parents’ and grandparents’ time, new sectors have been created or become mainstream – and not just in the digital sphere.
Mechanics
As the workload increased for mechanics, so too did the workforce.
The number of registered vehicles grew from about 1.5 million to 18.4 million between 1950 and 2016, the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows.
Australians went from having one car in the street to one car for each adult, while trucks overtook trains for commercial transport.
Employment Department figures show about 106,900 people now work as automotive electricians and mechanics in Australia.
Care
While nannies and nurses have always existed, social and policy changes since the 1970s have created a booming care industry.
Daniel Musson, chief executive of training organisation Charlton Brown, said the increasing number of women working full-time had increased demand for childcare.
“(We expect) continued growth in that sector over the next five to six years as people need to work to maintain their lifestyle,”
he said.
The introduction of compulsory superannuation sparked change in the aged care sector with many Australians now retiring with the funds to pay for care.
“Right now we’ve got one aged-care carer for every four elderly Australians but that number of elderly Australians will double in the next five years so we
need to effectively double (the workforce) just to keep the same ratio,” Mr Musson said.
Fitness
Australians used to walk or bicycle to work and/or have active jobs but today’s lifestyle means we need to move more in our spare time to keep fit.
Gyms have opened up in almost every suburb and
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(We expect) continued growth in that sector (childcare) over the next five to six years as people need to work to maintain their lifestyle. — Daniel Musson
personal trainers have become common.
In the past 30 years the sports and fitness workforce has grown from 13,200 to 87,100 workers.