The Rise of Hybrid Jobs and Apprenticeships in the New Economy
Technology is moving faster than ever — from AI to blockchain — and the advances are re-shaping the global labor market.
That means companies have to raise the bar on skill requirements, but universities simply can’t keep up. In fact, they rarely even teach the skills needed. According to a recent Public Agenda survey, this is a known problem. Nearly 60% believe a college education is no longer really necessary.
Part of this is due to the rise of “hybrid jobs” that mix skills that are rarely taught in tandem. Graphic Designers, for example, now must also have programming, marketing, or content development expertise. IT workers must have business skills and even design skills. Such hybrid roles rarely match the curriculum of four-year programs. Computer science programs and vocational IT schools lack the business skill curriculum, while design and business schools lack technical training.
Young people are completely aware of what’s happening. Unfortunately, they often get caught in the trap of degree inflation by seeking second and third degrees and adding to hefty student loan balances.
The bright side is that the talent deficit has raised salaries as employers compete for the available talent. Among IT pros, for example, where hybrids are up 53% to over 265K hybrids since 2011, the additional skillset lifts the average salaries to $96,000 compared to $86,000 non-hybrid IT workers.
So how do we solve this problem both for employers and job-seekers?
One solution is a very old idea: apprenticeships.
Many employers are realizing that they can develop the necessary skillset with the local pool for workers, and these companies generally don’t require formal education to become an apprentice. To become an apprentice, you often only need basic ICT skills.
Luckily ICT skills are readily acquired through non-formal education programs. These programs exist around the world and are accessible both in cost and time commitments. They often also move at a student’s own pace, rather than a professor’s. They also tend to be very affordable compared to four-year degrees.
In emerging economies, especially Africa, gaining such skills has become a core need. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs analysis found a strong demand for STEM and ICT skills across Africa, and an even stronger demand for professionals who can blend digital and STEM skills with a wide range of roles. The winners of the new economy will be those who combine deep traditional knowledge of their industry with the skills that give their companies technical competence, or better, an edge.
So obviously there is a great opportunity in front of us to accelerate student trajectories by combining non-formal education with apprenticeships. Hybrid learning alongside short-term training cannot only address entry-level skill in high-growth tech and creative sectors, but it can create incredible value for employers, employees, and the global economy overall.
Non-formal education is a way to build the professional networks that you need to launch your career. Check us out at https://tapyournetwork.com/
Want to learn more about Tap Your Network and the TapPRO app? Stay Tuned or better yet sign-up for our beta launch HERE the first 100 people to register will receive the app FREE for life!
