Four facts about the emerging contingent workforce — from switchandshift.com by Carleen MacKay; with thanks to Donna Svei (@AvidCareerist) for tweeting this
Excerpts (emphasis DSC):
Like it or not, the shift to a contingent workforce is absolute and irrevocable for many at all levels of experience. Taken together, professionals and non-professionals, it is estimated that 1 in 3 people (42 million) now work as contingent workers. Other experts estimate that by 2020, up to 50% of the workforce will be contingent.
Lesson: The changes in the workplace are structural, not cyclical. Certain jobs are gone forever and others are on the chopping block of time. Your task is to stay ahead of future changes.
…
The opportunity to contribute is driven by the alignment between current knowledge and market-driven demand. Opportunities are not limited by any particular career choice nor are they limited by degree. However, if you are to do well in the contingent world, you need to remain on the cutting-edge just as organizations must. Lifetime learning, a once-upon-a-time buzz phrase, is now a reality for those who would enjoy the fruits of the tree of knowledge.
Lesson: To the learners go the rewards.
From DSC:
Consider the graphic from the above article:
With these current, massive changes to the workforce like this…will our current level of responsiveness within institutions of higher education be able to get us there?