Future of Work
The future of work offers both an opportunity and a challenge.
If we prepare our workforce for the changing job market, technological progress will lead to new efficiencies and jobs, driving productivity and our economy forward. If we fail, our economy will suffer, and inequalities will get worse.
Eighty-three percent of U.S. jobs that pay under $20/hour will soon be subject to automation. And 2.4 million new skilled manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2028. Our high schools are not producing a prepared workforce; business leaders are struggling to meet their employment demands. Because they cannot find enough talented graduates nearby, local companies are forced to look elsewhere. The solution starts in schools.
Students need basic technical skills, the ability to learn continuously, good judgment and teamwork, and self-reliance. They must be ready to move through jobs quicker, reskill when necessary, and take advantage of new technologies.