Reconceptualizing Workers as Lifelong Learners

In a rapidly evolving labor market impacted by a complex interaction of economic, demographic, and technological shifts, ensuring that workers remain competitive and that industry and employers' needs are met will depend on developing and maintaining up-to-date and relevant skills. Skill requirements are changing. In a study conducted between 2016 and 2021, on average, 37 percent of the top skills requested for jobs in the United States changed, and one in five skills are new. Automation and the development of emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence have and will continue to present opportunities for increased firm and worker productivity, but will possibly lead to disruptions across many occupations, displacing some jobs but creating others with new skill requirements. Throughout the following decade, it is estimated that more than two-thirds of US jobs will require postsecondary education, training, or upskilling opportunities. In a labor market that is far from static, the continuous acquisition of skills throughout an individual's working life will become key to remaining competitive. Gaining relevant skills, however, has often been difficult for workers who face barriers that prevent them from fully engaging in the labor market and securing gainful employment that could in turn provide additional learning opportunities. In addition, industry and employer needs have often outpaced the ability of workforce and education systems to respond, let alone to individually and collectively support workers. A lack of coordination and responsiveness between these systems has contributed to a mismatch between workers' skills and employer requirements. This gap and the barriers that many workers face can contribute to a worker's reduced ability to pursue and secure gainful employment. Rather than single touchpoints with education and workforce training, whether through traditional degrees, credentials, or one-time vocational training programs, workers will need opportunities to engage in continuous learning, training, and skills-focused education throughout their lifetimes. To fulfill labor market demand, the systems that support workers and their pursuits toward career advancement should consider workers as not only talent, labor or human capital, but as active, lifelong learners.