We must rise to challenge of technology tide
THE numbers are astounding. The impact extraordinary. The need for action decisive. These are the findings of new research looking at the impact of technology on jobs in the Channel Islands – and what we need to do about it.
Around 30% of jobs are at risk in Guernsey and Jersey between now and 2035. That equates to a staggering 27,000 existing posts. The finance sector, the young, the low paid and low skilled will be the worst affected in a number of successive waves of technological change.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also accelerated the pace of change as businesses have adopted new ways of working. The risk to the current generation of workers and those that follow is profound, but so too are the opportunities.
As the report from PwC in the Channel Islands notes, it’s not all bad news. With decisive action as many jobs can be created as those lost, according to the research. Key to decisive action is ramping up skills training, to enable people to move from the analogue to the digital economy. The work of organisations such as the Digital Greenhouse and Bright Futures, who are working on these issues, has never been more important.
It also requires politicians, government, employers, third sector groups, educators and individuals to really grip the issue. That isn’t an easy ask in the face of the multiple challenges that we face, whether it’s the pandemic or the ongoing impact of Brexit or an ageing population. But add it to the list, we must.
Is it time for a mass programme of up-skilling, for example, and will that be something that would-be deputies will be discussing during the island’s general election?
Handled well, meeting the challenge of technology disruption on our working lives could become a central pillar of the Bailiwick’s Revive and Thrive recovery plan from the pandemic. As one finance sector leader has noted, technology could also help it meet the challenge of recruitment – which in turn could buttress it against competitors.
Much like Canute showed how he could not turn back the tide, we cannot turn back the tide of technological change. Modern-day Luddites, we cannot be. But what we do now, really does matter and in the spirit of Guernsey Together we must believe that we can rise to the challenge.