Lagos, Nigeria – Over 50 percent of skilled workers in Nigeria, as well as in other global economies, are deeply concerned that their current job skills will become obsolete within the next five years due to rapid technological advancements reshaping industries and workforce demands. This widespread anxiety highlights the growing skills gap and the urgent need for upskilling initiatives across various sectors.
The findings were detailed in the report “Navigating Tomorrow: Mastering Skills in a Dynamic Global Labor Market,” which was released during the Global Labor Market Conference. The report surveyed 14,000 participants from 14 countries, providing a broad overview of the global labor market’s transformation under the influence of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and other technological changes.
Technology and Globalization Driving Skills Obsolescence Fears
The report revealed that 56 percent of Nigerian workers fear that their current skills could become outdated in the next five years, driven by the swift pace of technological change and globalization. This concern was shared by workers in other countries, with Brazil (61 percent) and China (60 percent) showing the highest levels of anxiety. In the United States, 51 percent of workers expressed similar fears, followed by India (55 percent), Spain (54 percent), Saudi Arabia (56 percent), and South Africa (57 percent).
Notably, the concern was less pronounced in the UK (44 percent) and Japan (33 percent), where fewer workers reported anxieties about their skills becoming obsolete.
Automation and the Fear of Job Replacement
The report also highlighted significant concerns about automation and its potential to replace human labor. China emerged as the country with the highest levels of concern, with 36 percent of workers fearing that robots or computers could eventually replace their jobs. This was notably higher than the figures in other countries, such as India (26 percent), Australia and Vietnam (25 percent), and the United States and South Africa (24 percent). In Nigeria, 21 percent of respondents shared this concern, while Japan had the lowest percentage of workers worried about automation, at 20 percent.
Barriers to Upskilling and Reskilling
Despite the widespread recognition of the need to upskill, the report identified several barriers that hinder global efforts to improve workers’ skills.
- 44 percent of respondents believed that upskilling was their personal responsibility.
- However, 40 percent cited a lack of time, and 39 percent pointed to financial constraints as major obstacles preventing them from acquiring new skills.
- Additionally, 19 percent of participants felt that educational systems were not adequately aligned with the needs of the modern labor market, leaving many workers ill-prepared for the technological transformations taking place.
The Role of Employers in Upskilling Initiatives
The report emphasized the key role that businesses play in supporting upskilling and reskilling efforts. 49 percent of workers expressed more confidence in businesses to help them develop their skills, compared to only 20 percent for governments, 19 percent for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and 12 percent for labor unions. This reflects a widespread expectation that employers will prioritize workforce development and invest in their employees’ long-term growth.
Expert Views on the Skills Gap
Seamus McGuinness, a research professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute, described the report’s findings as both a challenge and an opportunity. He stressed that as technological progress continues at an unprecedented pace, it is critical for governments, businesses, and educational institutions to collaborate on bridging the skills gap.
“Technological progress must be matched by investments in human potential to ensure no worker is left behind,” McGuinness said, underscoring the need for a coordinated approach to equip workers with the skills necessary for a rapidly evolving global labor market.
Moving Forward
The Global Labor Market Conference and the accompanying report underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the emerging skills gap. The challenge of ensuring that workers are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in a future driven by automation and AI is one that requires a united effort across governments, businesses, and educational institutions.
For Nigeria, where the majority of skilled workers are concerned about the obsolescence of their skills, this report highlights an opportunity to invest in large-scale upskilling and reskilling programs. Such initiatives will be crucial not only for enhancing workforce competitiveness but also for ensuring long-term economic resilience in an increasingly digital and globalized world.
