published: 30-06-2021
It is of crucial importance to develop actions building on positive impact of technological change on the labour market whilst mitigating the unwanted negative effects. Big data and artificial intelligence analysis can play an important role in this. They constitute a rich source of information on how labour markets and skills demands will be affected by technological change. The same remains true for conventional skills forecasts and surveys. CEDEFOP developed practical guidelines to contribute to the analyses needed to support these actions.
In the midst of the ongoing fourth industrial revolution, work as we know it is being remodeled by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. With forecasts indicating increased automation and displacement of workers, designing active skills policies is essential. The three guides, to which Panteia contributed as part of the consortium, aim to inform analysts and policy-makers about the adaptions to the inevitable technological changes to the world of work and skill demands analysis.
The first practical guide focuses on conventional skills intelligence methods of surveys and forecasting, including a checklist of issues which an analyst will need to take into consideration before engaging in econometric forecast modelling of skill needs in relation to technological change.
The focal point of the second guide concerns automated skills intelligence methods such as big data and AI-driven analyses. It outlines how automated skills anticipation methods are applied, using tools which operate basing on AI and big data. It also demonstrates how such tools can retrieve the essential information on skill needs and insight into future-oriented technologies from widely accessible sources such as online job advertisements, through patent applications data and even Wikipedia articles.
The third guide centers around technology and skill foresight methods, including a description of how to design effective workshops which are often used in foresight exercises.
The practical guides can be found at the CEDEFOP website.