By 2028, the skills gap is projected to widen by an additional 280,000 individuals.
In a recent study, concerns have been raised about the anticipated skills shortage in several sectors, including retail, childcare, IT, and healthcare, due to demographic change and digitalization. If the skills gap is not addressed, it could become increasingly noticeable in everyday life for more people in the future.
The study, which analysed the labour market situation in 1,300 occupations based on data from 2023 and trends of recent years, predicts that the largest increase in occupations will be in childcare, with around 143,400 new positions by 2028. However, this sector is also expected to face a significant skills gap, with around 30,800 unfilled positions for early childhood educators.
The metal industry, on the other hand, is predicted to have a decrease of around 161,200 skilled workers by 2028. The decrease in bank clerks is due to banking being automated and branches closing, with trained bank clerks expected to decrease by about 56,300 employees.
One of the most alarming predictions is the shortage in sales, with the skills gap growing from more than 12,900 to 40,470. The social work and healthcare sectors are also expected to have more than 21,000 unfilled positions each.
The study suggests that the largest shortage will be in IT occupations, which are projected to increase significantly by 26%. This growth is attributed to digitalization, which is transforming various industries and creating a demand for skilled IT professionals.
To address these projected skills gaps, experts recommend several strategies. These include investment in vocational training and upskilling programs tailored to the evolving needs of industries influenced by digitalization. Promoting lifelong learning and continuous professional development can help current workers adapt to new technologies and processes.
Public-private partnerships can align education and training curricula with labor market demands, while expanding access to childcare and flexible work arrangements can increase workforce participation, especially among underrepresented groups. Leveraging immigration policies can fill immediate labor shortages in critical sectors, and implementing digital literacy and STEM education initiatives starting from early education can prepare future generations.
However, there appear to be no relevant search results available to directly address the specific measures recommended for tackling the projected skills gap of 768,000 workers by 2028. Further updated or targeted information sources would be necessary to gain insights into specific policy proposals or programs from recognized authorities or recent studies.
The main reason for this skills gap is demographic change, with many people retiring in the coming years. The reason for the increase in IT occupations is digitalization. The reasons for the shortage of young people choosing sales apprenticeships were not specified in the study.
In conclusion, the projected skills gap in several sectors is a significant concern, with the potential to impact daily life for many people. Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach, including investment in education, training, and immigration policies, as well as initiatives to promote lifelong learning and flexible work arrangements. Further research is needed to identify specific policy proposals and programs that can effectively address these challenges.
- To mitigate the anticipated skills gap in various sectors, community policy should prioritize investment in vocational training and upskilling programs that align with digitalized industries' evolving needs.
- In line with the need for career development, business strategies should incorporate promotion of lifelong learning and continuous professional development for current workers to adapt to technological advancements in their respective fields.
- As part of the education-and-self-development and career-development measures, job-search platforms could offer skills-training resources and information on occupations with high growth potential in IT, healthcare, childcare, and other critical sectors to facilitate job applicants' suitability and employability.
