“I think there is a challenge with the teachers themselves who do not understand possible careers-there is a great opportunity for employers to go to schools to explain the range of job possibilities and help join the points between what young people are studying at school and what it could lead as a career,” said Dr. Bentley-Gockmann.
“It is important for employers to do so to ensure the future talent pipeline.”
Worldskills UK is organizing many digital skills competitions in a wide range of areas that are open to young people in the college and more. About 15,000 young people participate in these competitions each year, which come with free training to help them improve their skills more.
Dr. Bentley-Gockmann says that he meets many young people who do not know that their hobbies can be transformed into “very rewarding job possibilities”.
For example, coding may seem boring or intimidating, but it could lead to a career in the design of 3D video games. And playing with school robots could lead to a career in the construction of robots to solve problems for large manufacturing companies.
Although the lists of technology employment advertisements fell by 57% in 2020, Accenture reports that the demand for robotics skills jumped “spectacularly” in several cities in the north of English since July – robotics jobs have increased by 115% in Liverpool, 253% in Leeds and a Epic 450% in Newcastle.
“I am not surprised, in particular, as in the West Midlands and in the North, traditional manufacturers now put more technology in their manufacturing processes to become more automated,” said Dr. Bentley-Gockmann.
“There has been digital acceleration in all sectors, creating new skills needs, which could explain the jump.”