Abstract:

The role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is increasingly pervasive across all economic sectors and is leading to complex social restructuring, through the digital transformation of processes and systems. The changes in the contexts of life and work are strongly marked by the accelerated adoption of technologies and the production of large volumes of information. The role of technology is changing as the computational and automation capacity increases, and new forms of interaction and collaboration between professionals and machines emerge. The application of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big data, 3D printing, cloud computing, machine learning, etc., are already part of products and services on several countries. Such digital transformation is creating growing calls for the adjustment of education and qualification policies together with the need for the requalification of many professionals. As a consequence of the increasing automation, it is estimated that, in the coming years, many of the jobs now known, will no longer be necessary, and likewise, new professions are expected to emerge that will adapt to the demands of new jobs, that will require new qualifications and skills.

The purpose of this study is to explore a comprehensive vision about the attractiveness of the jobs of the future, specifically of a medium-density urban area, building on the case of Aveiro, Portugal. To this end, the study builds on a preliminary literature review that combines insights from academic sources as well as from reports and policy documents from entities - such as EU, WEF and OECD - concerning the foresight and trends for the future of work and qualifications of job-seekers specifically in digital areas. The study is part of the EU project Aveiro STEAM City that addressed the digital transformation of work. The identified trends for the future of work are used to discuss and collect views from two complementary perspectives: the perspective of individuals, including current of future professionals with a specific focus in technological areas and motivated for the development of skills for digital transformation; and on the other hand, companies, including start-ups operating in the ICT business in Aveiro.

The study explored the perceptions of these stakeholders about the level of adequacy of the existing education and training offers in the region for the digital transformation job trends, as well as the existence of job opportunities in the region. By bringing together the views of professionals and employees the paper discusses the differences in the perceptions of both about the existence of job offers aligned with digital transformation opportunities, as well as about the conditions of a local education and training ecosystem to support the qualification of such workforce in a sustainable manner. According to the interviewees' perception, the opportunities in some areas are more evident than in others. Notably for professions related to 3D/4D printing job opportunities seem to be aligned with the education opportunities. Likewise, professions related to the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning were selected as those that will have a greater demand and for which the views of companies and those of professionals are more aligned regarding the offer, and the qualification capabilities that the region of Aveiro will have in the coming years.

Keywords:

Digital transformation, skills, competences, education innovation, job market, new professions, future of work.