Now and again I am asked by young people for advice on career choices. My main responses are: (a) experiment and find out what you enjoy and don’t enjoy; (b) find something that has meaning for you; and (c) seek to maintain some independence from employers. I don’t think this advice is that bad at least for those who made it to university but it does feel inadequate given the current state of the world.
Maybe I could add: learn how to grow and forage for food and get handy with firearms.
A number of thoughts cross my mind that I leave unsaid. Maybe I could add: learn how to grow and forage for food and get handy with firearms. To start talking in these terms though is to cross a social boundary. Anyway in real terms, people also need to earn a wage in the here and now.
So is there a middle way – a narrative that is more acceptable to the mainstream, while also recognising the challenges we face? In this issue we have a great range of contributions on how we should think about skills and work particularly in the context of climate change and artificial intelligence.
Joshua Davis examines the broad range of skills needed to regenerate landscapes, Alex Gray relates how he seeks to overcome cultural barriers to regenerative farming and Sarah Jenkins ponders on the inadequate reward for skilled care giving.
Madhavi Venkatesan argues that the real threat from AI is our loss of capability, Paul Frijters suggests some impacts of AI on work, while James Robson claims that young employment in the UK can’t all be blamed on bots.
Liepollo Pheko provides a view on virtual jobs from South Africa, Stephen Laughton and John Pye propose a path to full employment and I suggest England should take a more place-based approach to skills planning.
Marjolaine Rostain and Jean Clarke tell how today’s industries might gain from tapping into their workers’ hidden skills, Stephen J. Frenkel and Tom Barnes explore the possibilities for workers and employers of increasing automation and Guy Dauncey reviews an astounding book on capitalism.
Last but not least our very own Professor Verity Bastion experiences the tribulations of the UK care system.
I hope you find this a stimulating.
Best wishes
