NEDLAC Future of Work in South Africa

This research project explored the future of work in South Africa, considering the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), inequality, and empowerment. It highlighted the need for a reimagined education system, lifelong learning, and a demographic dividend harnessed through appropriate skills development. The study emphasized the potential substitutability of humans by smart technologies in the labor force and the importance of a proactive, inclusive approach to achieve a future where technology augments labor and creates new job opportunities. The research culminated in four scenarios ranging from negative outcomes with unskilled, entitled workers to positive futures with empowered individuals possessing appropriate skills. NEDLAC's role as a coordinator and facilitator in stakeholder engagement and digital infrastructure investment was underscored, with further research suggested on worker representation and factors influencing economic opportunity access.

(Generated with the help of GPT-4)

The research method involved identifying and analyzing driving forces shaping the future of work in South Africa, conducting impact analyses, and generating scenarios through workshops with NEDLAC constituents, ILO representatives, and the Institute for Futures Research. The scenarios were developed using the Intuitive Logics approach and considered the influence and uncertainty of pivotal factors such as individual empowerment and appropriate skills.

(Generated with the help of GPT-4)

The research examined the dynamics of South Africa's labor market and the influence of various factors on the future of work. It identified critical driving forces, including the 4IR, inequality, individual empowerment, economic power shifts, and the need for a social compact. The study conducted an impact analysis of these forces, leading to the creation of four scenarios for work in South Africa by 2030. These scenarios ranged from “A Dead-End,” with unskilled, entitled workers, to “Accomplished Game-Changers,” with empowered individuals and appropriate skills. The research emphasized the importance of education reform, lifelong learning, and stakeholder engagement, particularly through NEDLAC, to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the 4IR and other global trends.

(Generated with the help of GPT-4)

Categories: English publication language | South Africa geographic scope | climate change | digital fluency | economic power shifts | employment policy | empowerment | fourth industrial revolution | future of work | inequality | infrastructure | labour | profit motive | scenarios | skills development | social compact | south africa | unemployment | women participation | work