The Future of Work and Careers: Introduction

The report’s core objective is to provide a comprehensive fact-base to support the BGS2032 project’s prioritisation and planning activities. It also provides the basis for informed discussion within BGS’s leadership group and engagement with the wider school community.

The report is organised into three parts:

Part 1 is concerned with the key drivers of change to the world of work, and how automation and globalisation in particular are expected to impact on future occupations and careers. It outlines the
skills increasingly in demand and the roles and sectors where growth is forecast. It also discusses factors associated with the transition from full-time education to full-time work.

Part 2 explores in detail the ‘21st century’ skills, behaviours and dispositions considered necessary for a successful and fulfilling working life in the future. It focuses on the links between traditional
disciplinary knowledge and ‘21st century’ skills; and provides an overview of these ‘skills’, how they can be conceptualised, and how demand for them is expected to change over time.

Part 3 focuses on the issue of school external engagement as it relates to the world of work and careers. It provides a high level overview of schoolindustry/community partnership models; their
benefits, key success factors and challenges; and some examples of specific arrangements.

Next steps

Developing a summary paper or slide presentation that synthesises this report’s key findings (in particular, Parts 1 and 2), either in preparation for engaging with the wider school community, or subsequent to this once priorities and/or key areas of focus have been established.

Part 3 of the report represents a preliminary assessment only. There would be value in:

i. Reviewing the additional research literature identified while preparing this report;
ii. Conducting further desktop research into current partnership and engagement activities by other schools; and
iii. Undertaking targeted discussions with external parties (including other schools) to validate findings and explore opportunities.