When it comes to the future of work, we're constantly told that automation and algorithms are destined to eliminate huge swaths of the workforce. But the reality is both more complicated and more optimistic.
A major problem for the U.S. economy is a shortage of skilled workers. A recent Deloitte report estimates that there will be over 2.5 million skilled job openings unfilled in America over the coming decade. Much is being made about the urgency of reviving apprenticeships, job training programs, and vocational education. All of that will help, but the data and demographics (especially an aging skilled workforce), show that all those efforts combined won't fill the skills gap. This is especially true in the oil and gas sector, which is facing a particularly acute labor shortage across the board from the mechanical, electrical, and construction trades to truck drivers.
Read Full Article »