Todays rapidly changing workforce requires a shift in learning. Workers dont have of time to conform to a rigid academic setting; they need flexibility. That's good for employers too.

Kimberly K. Estep and Victor Aluise| Guest Columnists

Tennessee Voices: A conversation with Kimberly Estep

Kimberly Estep, Southeast vice president and Tennessee chancellor of WGU, spoke with Tennessean opinion editor David Plazas.

Nashville Tennessean

Even before the global pandemic, employers needs were rapidly changingas technology pushed innovation in business, workflows, and processes. The pandemic has only accelerated these changes.

As a result, many Americans are compelled to learn new skills often several times throughout their professional careers by the evolving workforce. However, acquiring new skillsrequires a new mindset and approach to learning.

Fortunately, education organizations across Tennessee are leading the charge to help students and employees navigate the changing workforce landscape.

For example, postsecondary institutions are developing or revamping curricula to meet the workforce needs of companies like FedEx, HCA Healthcare, Dolgencorp and Dollar General.

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The integration of technology into critical business processes and the automation of routine tasks was happening well before COVID-19, but the pandemic has hastened these trends dramatically.

In a July 2020 survey of 800 senior business executives by global research firm McKinsey & Company, two-thirds said they were stepping up their automation and artificial intelligence investment either somewhat or significantly due to the pandemic.

These changes are having a profound effect on workplace needs. The roles businesses are looking for are shifting and opening new positions for an incoming workforce equipped with the right mix of hard and soft skills.

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As the workplace transforms, we must enable workers to change and keep pace. The World Economic Forums Future of Jobs Report 2020 predicts that half of all employees worldwide will need upskilling or reskilling by 2025 to stay competitive in the dynamicbusiness landscape.

Its no surprise that job-posting site Indeedcurrently lists business analysis, cloud computing, and app development among the most in-demand skills. Soft skills such as creativity, collaboration, and adaptability also rank as skill priorities, as todays businesses need team-oriented employees who can help organizations innovate and stay ahead of change.

Most importantly, the cadenceof change for professional skills is gaining speed. For the average worker, the relevance of their core skills has dropped to just five years, according to the Future of Jobs Report. As a result, employees will have to refresh their skills multipletimes during their careers to remain viable. Learning institutionswill need to adapt their teachingmodels toenablestudents to upskill quickly.

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These rapidly changing workforce requirements create a massive demand for skill growth and professional learning.As a result, higher-education programs must be flexible enough to meet the needs of working adults and accommodate a balance of work, school,and family. Asynchronouslearning allows for this flexibility, resulting ina fourfold increase nationally in people learning online at their own initiative and pace.

Skills-based learning offeringsalso must enable participants to earn a degree or credential in a shortertime frame versus the traditional four-year college model. Competency-based online learning offers one solution. Based on proficiency rather than seat time, competency-based education can help students earn a degree or credential more rapidly by moving through courses and learning experiences as they demonstrate mastery of course materials.

Todays rapidly changing workforce necessitates a shift in approaches to professional learning methods. Working learners dont have an abundance of time to conform to the rigidity that traditional postsecondary settings offer. Instead, they requireflexible degree and credential programs that can help them quickly acquirehigh-demand skills throughout their careers. Employers cant wait on traditional learning methods to close the gaps between workforce skills and economic needs.

Kimberly K. Estep, Ph.D., is chancellor of WGU Tennessee and regional vice president of Southeast Region, Western Governors University,and Victor Aluise, Ed.D., is vice president and dean of Western Governors Universitys College of Business.

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Changing workforce requires new skills and approaches to learning - Tennessean