Page 10 - BusinessWest April 18, 2022

technology integration in jobs across industries.” In order to qualify for jobs that use ever-
changing technology, training workers for current and future jobs becomes essential.
“One finding in the report said the state of Massachusetts has to train or retrain 30,000 to 40,000 workers a year just to keep up with all the workplace changes,” Lesser said. “That’s more than double our current capacity at the MassHire Workforce Training Center.”
On top of all the challenges on the job, another key finding addressed work-adjacent issues that affect workers off the job and impact family sta- bility. Escalating costs for childcare and housing are among the top work-adjacent concerns.
“Private childcare in Massachusetts is $8,000 higher than the national average,” Lesser said. As a byproduct of COVID, the price of houses and rents are soaring, which forces people to live fur- ther away from their workplaces and exacerbates another concern — transportation.
“Predictions are that today’s worker will have 12 different jobs over the course of their work career. That number will only increase five to 10 years from now, so the notion of training for a job once is really obsolete.”
So, What’s the Answer?
While it’s easy to list all the issues confronting workers in Massachusetts, Lesser said the report also provides recommendations to guide legisla- tion going forward to address these concerns and make life better for workers in the state.
“The idea is to integrate the findings and per- spectives of the report into everything the state does,” he noted, giving examples of upcoming legislation on healthcare and economic develop- ment where the Future of Work report aided in drafting the bills.
The most pressing area where the report can influence workplace policies involves putting a focus on equity and inclusion to make sure no one is left behind. The report reveals serious road- blocks to finding meaningful work, which Lesser wants to see addressed.
“More than one-third of families in Springfield do not own a laptop or desktop computer,” he noted. “Today, nearly every employer requires the first application be done electronically, so right off the bat it locks out a whole population of people.”
The report also suggests an increase in lan- guage training for non-English speakers, which would make it easier for immigrants to join the workforce instead of being held back by language skills.
While the report is future-focused, Lesser quickly pointed out that traditional models for successful careers are already out of touch with the demands of today’s workforce. The old model where workers learned a craft or students went to college and then joined the workforce for the next 45 years without much change rarely happens these days.
“Predictions are that today’s worker will have
12 different jobs over the course of their work career,” he said. “That number will only increase five to 10 years from now, so the notion of train- ing for a job once is really obsolete.”
To adjust to a world that keeps changing at a faster pace, the report recommends an emphasis on “stackable credentials” for workers, with con- stant, specific training keeping them current and promotable.
“
make sure all these work-adjacent issues are considered when planning the future of work.”
“By acquiring skills that stack on top of each other, workers can move up the skill ladder, move up the income ladder, and build out a fulfilling career as a result,” Lesser explained.
As technology demands in the workplace keep advancing, the workforce itself is aging, espe- cially in Massachusetts. Baby Boomers are stay- ing on the job longer than previous generations, partly for financial reasons and because technol- ogy has lessened the physical demands of work. Lesser said it’s important to consider the needs
of an aging workforce from several perspectives, including work-adjacent issues.
“It’s not surprising to see workers dealing with childcare and elder
The state needs to do its part to
care for their par- ents,” Lesser said.
Work
Continued on page 11
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