How work, workers and the workplace may change in future sector, for example, has continued to evolve, and technology is in the centre of it all. “Digitisation” is the keyword here, and we even have supercomputers that can ‘think’ like humans. I can think of two big companies that have partnered with IBM to use Watson, IBM’s big-data service. DBS Bank has invested in Watson to better understand its customers’ behaviours, and to introduce cutting-edge banking products and services to better serve, attract and retain customers. In the health science industry, Johnson & Johnson is using Watson to discover new drugs. What is next is anyone’s guess. However, one thing is certain – ignore technology, for fear or whatever reason, at your own peril. You are very likely to be left behind in the dust.
Issues for Singaporeans to ponder over Types of employment Increasingly, I see two different types of workers. One is the traditional worker who still sees these job characteristics as important in their careers - career path, job security, predictable income and a “work hard” mentality. When I begin working, I will find a good job, work hard and be loyal; in return, I will be paid a decent wage, enjoy job security and have a good work-life balance. I will retire when I reach the mandatory retirement age. This pretty much sums up what used to be the mindset of a worker. The business world has become a lot more complicated. Changing business needs, increasing customer expectations and other changes require companies to be agile and nimble to react to them. More often than not, their responses result in job losses. Life-long employment or the ‘iron rice bowl’ has been a thing of the past, and I don’t think it will ever return. A new breed of workers is emerging – I call them the portfolio professionals. They are self-employed and offer their expertise and services to whoever wish to engage them. This pool of workers will eventually constitute a large proportion of the local workforce.Self-employment – be it by those who provide services to others or entrepreneurs who manage their own businesses - will increasingly be the norm. Resumes will become redundant. More “LinkedIn”-type networking platforms will come into being. Besides a summary of a person’s key competencies, each profile will come with a video clip of him or her doing a self-marketing pitch. 107