By 2050, the majority of Polish society will be over 50 years old. At the same time, modern technologies enter companies faster, which makes older employees more difficult to keep up with changes, which is threatened with exclusion, and young people are afraid that their positions will disappear. Participants of one of the panels during the spring edition of the European Forum of New Ideas, which takes place in Warsaw, talked about current trends on the labor market.
According to Mariusz Zielonka from the Lewiatan Confederation, European labor markets, despite the current turbulence in the world, are characterized by high resistance.
– Poland is in third place among those better cope with. However, this road can be bumpy. Especially since there are many dynamic changes related to, among others with technology – said Mariusz Zielonka. – In addition, the aging of society is visible. By 2050, most of our population will be over 50 years old. At the same time, the rate of changes accelerates, which may cause exclusion. Especially older employees will be more difficult to keep up. Therefore, it is necessary to create a lifelong learning system.
You have to think about the silver economy
Also Li Andersson, MEP, chairwoman of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, believes that it is necessary to introduce special labor market policies for the silver economy.
“We must consider older employees,” Li Andersson believes. – It is necessary to change the recruitment approach to them, but also to adapt their competence to the requirements of technological transformation. Targeted lifelong learning programs are needed, as well as reskilling and upskilling tailored to specific needs. By 2030, the goal is that the majority participates in this process. The more that currently only 11 percent. older employees, over 55 years of age, is still educating.
Employees over 55 are not a problem
According to Li Andersson, in many countries these problems are solved at national level.
– Medium and small enterprises are not able to invest in the constant development of all professional groups. That is why they need EU support – believes MEP. – Well -designed programs are necessary. You even need to plan who will replace the employee when he is training. We need to promote intergenerational cooperation, mentor programs and proper narrative. It cannot be said that employees over 55 are a problem. Let's remember about gigantic knowledge and experience that they can convey to younger generations.
Will the cashiers disappear?
In turn, Marina Dubakina, president and general director for sustainable development, IKEA Retail believes that new technologies are currently arousing many myths. That is why both company leaders and the state should overthrow them, because it is only a fear that has big eyes.
– The technological change has been happening for a long time and is not suddenly at all – says Marina Dubakina. – This is not such a dramatic matter. There is also no place only at work, but also in the personal life of each of us. The challenge is the amount of time that the company and the employee devotes to tame these modern tools. This affects the performance and confidence and well -being of the employed person.
According to Marina Dubakina, the latest technologies may not make cashiers.
– It will be the fastest disappearing competition – believes the representative of IKEA Retail. – Fortunately, this is a group that can be retrained very quickly. These people will even be able to supervise various devices and help in the sales process. This is just one example. We know from experience in IKEA that you only need to spend some time. We have 60 percent in Warsaw employees less due to automation.
A technological gap was created
Bożena Leśniewska, vice president of the Board of Business Market in Orange Polska, believes that technologies are growing very quickly and rapidly. However, at the same time, organizations are growing slowly.
– In recent years it caused a large gap, which is a great problem, because digital transformation is part of each company – says Bożena Leśniewska. – In addition, we need to adapt a lot of technology in all organizations. That is why it is very important to speed up the transformation rate, which is not easy. It is necessary to combine IT and business competences and increase qualifications. In large companies we are already talking about a mass approach.
Can you use AI at work?
According to Dariusz Standerski, secretary of state at the Ministry of Digitization, many employees have doubts whether they can use artificial intelligence in their work.
– We use AI in many different ways. This is no longer avoided – believes Dariusz Standerski. – This is not the first such revolution in our history. Earlier, they usually increased the number of jobs. AI wave will not be different from that. The difference is a different demographic situation. In Poland, every year 500 thousand people leave the labor market, and 300,000 enters. This means that artificial intelligence will have to help here. The problem is that companies adapt too slowly to this. That is why we need to adjust technologies faster than in the past. In Poland, we need 100,000 More IT and AI specialists until the end of the current decade. Such employees are lacking especially in small towns – added the minister.
Lack of workforce is a problem of 70 percent. Polish companies
According to the European Commission data, as much as 70 percent Employers say that the lack of labor is their main problem. According to Ivailo Kalfina, the executive director of Eurofound, this is a problem, because we are already competing with other regions of the world for working force.
– The demand on the European market for employees from outside the Union concerns two groups: very highly educated employees, e.g. dealing with new technologies, and those who do not need high skills, e.g. care or construction. The latter can simply be trained. However, to persuade the software engineer from India to come to Europe, we must not only offer a high salary, but also high quality employment. It must be taken into account that he will come with his family. That is why housing, education, health and social care must be prepared for it.
According to Ivailo Kalfina, in European countries we also have a personnel reserve, e.g. young parents, elderly people and people who are not interested in work, which especially part of the young generation belongs. Therefore, you need to think how to attract them to the labor market.
– First, it is worth encouraging your citizens, and only then encouraging outside people to come to us – believes the executive director of Eurofound.
Going to research during work is cool?
According to Bożena Soberka, Head of Hr Poland and Baltics in BAT, you cannot go through a social transformation without remembering that there are people in the middle.
– This is not a cost, but is an investment in the development of the company – believes the expert – we also need to create a workplace where health is a very important matter. It is important to help employees so that they can work as long as possible. You need to watch work ergonomics. It is important to build awareness that taking care of yourself is something fashionable. Going to research during work is cool. Prevention is the best form of concern for health. Employers can also prepare for this.
According to Bożena Soberka, mental well -being, which is not yet sufficiently supported in Poland.
– The average use of mental health support programs is 2 percent. – says the representative of BAT. – That's why you have to start with education, increasing awareness and disenchanting the subject. We, as an employer, can lead to a huge change in this area – adds the expert.
