Una Fitzpatrick
Director, Technology Ireland
The new world of work is more exciting, but also less predictable. Digital transformation has the potential to further revolutionise the future of work in Ireland.
With the onset of the pandemic, the past 20 months have seen huge acceleration in the pace of change. The world of work experienced a dramatic overnight transformation, which saw many businesses around the world adapting to a completely new way of working.
The role that digital transformation can play in helping Ireland embrace change and overcome the related challenges cannot be denied. From rejuvenating business processes to reimagining the way we deliver services and enhancing customer experience.
Ireland is ranked among the top countries worldwide for the flexibility and adaptability of our workforce.
How we can succeed in the new world of work
How organisations, government and individuals respond will fundamentally affect the quality of our jobs and lives in the future. It will determine the ability of businesses to prosper and, more fundamentally, it will shape our society and living standards for generations.
Ibec’s Smarter World, Smarter Work campaign proposes a range of actions across four key areas:
- Investment in skills and employability. At all stages, for all ages, the training and education system must equip individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to reach their full potential.
- Flexibility at all life stages. We all need to embrace new ways of managing working life – individuals, employers and government. We need to rethink traditional career paths, embrace new ways of working and ensure public policy actively encourages work.
- A dynamic labour market. A responsive labour market that supports job creation and high living standards, while also safeguarding our dynamic business model is vital.
- Smoother career transitions. Economic, technological and social change means people are moving between working and non-working life more often during their lives. Our employment, social protection and pensions system needs to support easy transitions.
Ireland is ranked among the top countries worldwide for the flexibility and adaptability of our workforce. We must now embrace the new opportunities the workplace revolution brings in order to cement our position as leader in this new approach to work.