The Changing Nature of Work: 30 signals to consider for a sustainable future

SIGNAL 11. Emerging sectors

Due to the speed of change observed in technological innovation, nascent industries are expected to gain momentum in the coming years. The advances that are mainly based on technology-push such as digital connectivity, AI, 3D printing and the Internet of Things (IoT) will drastically change the way organizations and humans operate.

Wearable technologies, drones and sensors will enable constant monitoring, covering large areas previously not well understood. AI will enable big data processing and unaided decision-making at unprecedented speeds. Robotics in healthcare is already in use, but it is expected to increase drastically to cater to the ever-increasing demand for healthcare all over the world. At the other end of the spectrum, cheaper and more energy-efficient spacecraft will provide the means to explore other planets in search of life.

In terms of demand-pull, environmental degradation and increased awareness of societal issues drive several new initiatives in areas of renewable energy, nature-based solutions (NBS), biotech, recycling, water security, high-tech farming and food growth, green building, ecotourism as well as the sharing economy, also known as peer-to-peer or P2P. The industries that provide these technologies will thrive in a world that is already dependent on a constant flow of innovation in all aspects of life. The knowledge and skills required to nurture this kind of growth will have to come from the existing workforce as well as younger generations who are still in the education system.

Check out the next signal, #12: Public sector and services

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The Changing Nature of Work: 30 signals to consider for a sustainable future

Work helps sustain livelihoods and largely determines the quality of life. Its changing nature is at the frontier of development. This report is the result of a broad horizon scanning by six UNDP Accelerator Labs across Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.  They reveal 30 signals that shape the “where, who, how, and why” of the changing nature of work. From the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce to new work models and entrepreneurial ecosystems, the authors explore opportunities and threats, as well as solutions from local contexts that can be scaled up into positive answers to the challenges people around the world are facing.  Download the full report here.