What is long-term employability?
Socio-economic, demographic, technological changes, and the health pandemic, has resulted in vast changes to employer’s needs. Business models are transforming and industries and sectors are reassessing the requirement of certain skills.
Long-term employability is ‘how employable an individual is over a long period of time’. That is, how well do their skills (hard and soft); meet the current and future demands of the market. There a large numbers of people worldwide currently going through career transition. It is more critical now than ever before, that individuals understand their full potential in the labour market, how their skills need to develop over time to align with the changing market and workforce demands and how to increase their own self-awareness.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected employability?
COVID-19 continues to effect most industries, jobs and skill requirements. There is no denying that some industries, such as aviation, may take years to recover and might never fully return to their pre-covid functions. Other however, such as technological sectors, cyber-security, virtual solutions etc. are thriving and may face a shortfall in their staffing and skills needs in the not too distant future.
Naturally, there are many restructures and change occurring within business and business models adapt to the changes and there is an increase of people going through a career transition. Supporting those going through career transition and helping them to understand that their previous skill set may need to be developed to align with what lies ahead is key to their success.
How can we secure long-term employability?
Securing long-term employability is to secure a change in mind-set. Societal expectations are that there is a career ladder, and you climb it. This is no longer the case. Careers may go sideways, jump up, down or change paths entirely. In order to secure ones long-term employability, there must be an understanding that a) the career path is fluid and one must be fluid with it, and b) that there is a responsibility on an individual’s shoulders to continuously evaluate their skills against business and market needs.
Equipping individuals with the skills and support to carry out this analysis of the self, business and labour market is vital for individual success, but also the success of the labour market moving forwards.
What is the role of HR and employability?
HR professionals have an opportunity to help carve the way for employee’s long-term employability. Offering support to employees can ultimately help to decrease turnover and keep relevant skills within the talent pool up-to-date, securing future business needs. If employees have a better understanding of the future business needs, and training is made available in good time, employees can evolve with a business they are committed to.
Join us live on Tuesday 22nd September with an expert panel discussion on the future of career transition and employability in a post-pandemic world of work. Our expert panel consists of three highly skilled professionals in the HR sphere Bev White, Carsten Sudhoff and Robin Richards. Each panellist brings a unique viewpoint to the discussion. Our very own chair of the CSG board, Cetti Galante, will facilitate the live webinar.
Join the live webinar at 16:00CET / 08:00PT / 11:00ET. To register click here.