Job Skills & Trends in Century 21 By Wendi Williams, Editor

Job Skills in the New Millennium
It's hard to believe we are eight years into the new millennium. As the world advances into the future and technology becomes a way of life, it may be difficult for employees to keep up with the ever-evolving job market trends. But if we want to stay on the cutting edge and continue to gain new skills in a tough and competitive global job market, then we have to become life-long learners and be willing to adapt to changing times.

Employers today want workers who are unafraid of technology. Be willing to learn new computer programs or other applications that will help you increase productivity and perhaps save your company hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Employers want employees who are not immune to diversity. Accepting and exploring other cultures, religions, and customs among co-workers sets the stage for greater organizational cohesiveness. It also prepares you to deal with individuals around the world, particularly if your company has international offices.

Employers want people who offer fresh ideas, can prioritize their workflow, adapt to change, and be self-starters. They don't always have time to stand over your shoulder or hold your hand to make sure you know how to perform your job. It's important to try new things. What worked yesterday may not work today. Also, consider the people you serve. If you can't offer them what they need, they will probably go elsewhere.

What's Ahead
In 2004, the labor force 16 years or older was 144.9 million. That number is expected to climb to 162.3 million people by the year 2014. According to the United States Department of Labor, America's workforce will become more diverse with the labor pool increasing among all races of people. The fastest growing labor population will be Hispanic with a projected increase of 33.7 percent by 2014. Workers 55 and older will also increase from 15.6 percent to 21.2 percent by 2014.

Furthermore, the Department of Labor expects America to continue experiencing an industry shift from goods to services, adding 18.9 million new jobs across the nation. Education and health services will be the fastest growing industries. That means that 3 out of every 10 jobs will either be in healthcare, social services, or in private educational services. These industry trends are followed by professional and business services, including waste management, scientific, and technical services with a projected 28.4 percent increase or 1.9 million new jobs. Computer-related jobs such as computer design and software, and technical consulting services will increase from 39.5 to as much as 60.5 percent.

Other industry increases will occur among leisure and hospitality services, retail trade, transportation, utilities, and information technology industries, including Internet publishing, Web search engines, and data processing services by 10 to 24 percent.

According to the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, the state of Alabama will experience similar trends in the areas of healthcare and computer-related services. The economy as a whole is expected to produce nearly 300,000 new jobs by 2014. From 2004 to 2014, 60 percent of all projected jobs will occur as a result of employee separation and new job growth.

Is Your Head Swimming?
Yes, keeping up with today's job market is enough to make your head swim, but if you want to remain marketable, it's time to wake up and ride the wave. If you open yourself up to new ideas and new ways of doing things, then you, like billions of other people around the world, can survive, learn new skills, and explore new job trends in century twenty-one and beyond!

References

United States Department of Labor. (December 18, 2007). Tomorrow's jobs. Retrieved January 10, 2008.

Alabama's Department of Industrial Relations. (2007). Alabama workforce. Retrieved December 14, 2007.

Brandau, Karla. (2007). Ten career skills to keep you employable in the 21st century. Retrieved January 10, 2008.

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