18.12.2019

The World of Work in Digital Change

WIFO Economist Julia Bock-Schappelwein at "danube@work"
At the final conference of the ÖGB danube@work project, WIFO economist Julia Bock-Schappelwein addressed the question of what people need to assert themselves in a changing world of work.

With regard to qualification requirements, it is essential to have a bundle of formal qualifications, competences and skills that clearly distinguish human labour from robots or programmed algorithms. To achieve this, it is necessary to have sufficient basic skills in literacy and numeracy. At the same time, maintaining employability also requires an effective training system for adults. In particular, low- to medium-skilled individuals come under great pressure from the changes on the labour market and need instruments of financial support while pursuing further education.

The Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection, Brigitte Zarfl, also addressed the need to acquire new skills. She emphasised that the demand is directed towards competences that can only partly be achieved through traditional education path ways. In this context, more and more people are talking about "new collar jobs" that require specific qualifications in areas such as cyber security, data science, cloud computing or cognitive systems.

Further information on the final conference of the ÖGB danube@work project can be found here.

Workshop Organised by IIASA, WU Vienna and WIFO
07.05.2025
Austria's GDP Falls by 0.23 Percent in the Short-term and by 0.33 Percent in the Medium- to Long-term
04.04.2025
In the Service of Society
11.03.2025
German Society for Tourism Science Honours WIFO Economist
07.03.2025