To re-skill or up-skill is no longer the question. Companies are automating more and more jobs that could replace up to 33 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2030, according to a report by McKinsey & Co.
According to the business scholars John Seely Brown and Peter Denning, “The half-life of a learned skill is five years” — this means that much of what you learned 10 years ago is obsolete and half of what you learned five years ago is irrelevant.
Rutgers Business School is hosting a business community engagement symposium Nov. 7 on how organizations and workers can get ahead of the curve. “Lifelong Learning in the Digital Era” is bringing together experts from Google, McKinsey, LinkedIn, edX, Rutgers and more to offer solutions to companies and individuals on how they can refresh their knowledge and skills and not become irrelevant in the new digital economy.
“The pace of change in technology requires both management and the workforce to keep their skills current,” said Lei Lei, dean of Rutgers Business School. “Otherwise, they will lose out to competitors that have increased their efficiency and stimulated product innovation.”
According to Leon Fraser, assistant professor of professional practice at Rutgers Business School and organizer of the half-day event, recent college graduates as well as seasoned executives must refresh their skills regularly or risk becoming irrelevant and disposable.
“This symposium raises awareness on the pressing business issue of “lifelong learning” and offers companies and individuals useful information that will help them survive and thrive,” said Fraser.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Rutgers Business School in Newark. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Special keynote speaker will be international best-selling author Warren Berger, known for his writing about the power of questioning.
Interested in attending? Register by Nov. 2.
Event details
Symposium: Lifelong Learning in the Digital Era
The world is changing faster than ever and our skill sets have a shorter life.
Wednesday, Nov. 7
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rutgers Business School
1 Washington Park
Newark, NJ 07102
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