TRENDS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES
The world of work is changing. Technology, the green transition and social changes will transform occupations and the skills we will need.
1. Technology will transform occupations
Artificial intelligence, digitalisation and automation will change many tasks and professions.
Knowing how to use technology will become increasingly important.
2. New professional opportunities will emerge
The energy transition, advanced industry, healthcare, care services and digitalisation will create new demands for skilled professionals.
Opportunities will arise especially in the sectors leading these major transformations.
3. Skills will make the difference
Alongside technical knowledge, the ability to learn, solve problems, work in a team, communicate and adapt to change will be essential.
The future will require a combination of technical and personal skills.
4. Lifelong learning will become the norm
The skills needed will change throughout our professional careers. Updating knowledge, specialising and acquiring new skills will become increasingly common.
Education will not end with a qualification: it will accompany us throughout our lives.
5. Education and businesses will become more closely connected
Vocational Education and Training (VET) will develop an increasingly close relationship with businesses and the world of work, offering more practical learning and experience in real working environments.
Learning by doing will be one of the keys to the future of education and training.
The challenge: being prepared for change
The labour market will not only need professionals with specialised knowledge. It will need people who can learn, adapt and continue to grow professionally.
Preparing for the future means, above all, preparing ourselves to learn throughout our lives.
A good professional will probably need to combine:
practical skills + technology + data + communication + problem-solving + adaptability.
- VET in the 20th century prepared people for a specific occupation.
- VET in the 21st century prepares people for a professional career.
- VET in 2050 will need to prepare people for an ever-changing working life.
This makes adaptability, lifelong learning and the ability to combine different skills just as important as technical specialisation itself.
VET will move from preparing people for a single profession to equipping them to move between professions, technologies and sectors throughout their lives.
VET is no longer just an alternative: it is a pathway to the future!
