The workplace is creatively changing and fast. There are conducts that will change as years go by; we have seen machines taking up people’s jobs as well as workplace cultures and norms shifting. 

Numerous predictions on the future of work point towards artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics. But what changes are in store for the workplace and how should workers prepare?

Business and tech-leaders agree that massive changes are on the horizon; changes that will likely be driven by technology and enable machine learning, full automation, seamless communication, creating a completely new idea of what ‘work’ even means.

Jean de Dieu Uwiyubashye a content creator and copywriter at iBlue concepts, thinks that the current pandemic situation has influenced the digitalisation of the world.

"There is fear of unemployment and pressure for everyone to gain digital skills to be ready for the market, because the pandemic increased the use of artificial intelligence. And now this has put constraints in place regarding lack of digital skills, the marketplace needs more tech-workers compared to manpower,” he says.

"Those that can’t afford the education and digital training are in danger, not to mention people that are gradually diverting from their careers to try and fit in with the new trends,” he adds.

Eddy Robert Niyomfite, a young entrepreneur and CEO of Noblia an online shopping market, says that we can’t predict the future. That is why we will have to step out of the box and start thinking with an open mind, things will not be the same but at least we can have a sense of how to catch up with the changes, he says.

"Change- we can resist, but we can’t stop it. Of course, there will be great change in the world of employment. We have seen it happening in the past as most of the jobs people were doing are not available anymore, because machines have replaced people. But there is one thing those machines won’t be able to do, being creative. So the most important asset to the future workplace is people who can think creatively and use the machines to implement their creativity,” he states.

"In my perspective, depending on how I see the job market today, the future will require one to do what they excel in. The old thinking of relying on office jobs is taking its end. Now young people are called to think big about creating jobs, envisioning what’s needed in daily life,” says Annie Mpinganzima, a professional accountant.

How to prepare 

Niyomfite says that to get prepared, we have to be global and not local. We have to capitalise ourselves upon being skilled on a global level, we have to constantly elevate ourselves in terms of learning.

"Learning is a constant journey; it is a class where we never graduate. We learn gradually, we acquire skills to help us globally,” he adds.

Lily Umulisa, a customer care executive at ISON experience says, "We have to be diverse in what we do and yet profound in this changing world, like you could go to any part of the world and be able to fit in.”

However, Mpinganzima advises not to be lost in the thought of becoming entrepreneurs only, different skills are needed in different fields that don’t require you to be a creator. In that sense, the youth are required to follow career paths that also respond to certain social needs.

Mpinganzima says that working hard and excelling is the one thing needed to prepare for the future of work.