Ladies and Gentlemen,
The numbers speak for themselves:
In Poland, 90% of companies struggle with a competence gap, which makes it difficult to recruit the right employees, and only 6% of employees participated in reskilling (report: "Reskilling - the great skills reset"). Globally, 40% of companies face similar challenges, and by 2025 half of the world's workers will need retraining due to automation and technological progress (World Economic Forum).
In Poland, almost half of working time is expected to be automated by 2030, risking the loss of 7.3 million positions (McKinsey Polska). Poland, ranking 27th in the EU in terms of digital competences, needs to improve the skills of its workforce (Eurostat).
In the IT industry, women represent only 17% of professionals in Europe and 5% of global technology leaders. At the same time, they constitute 24% of employees in the digital technologies sector, of which only 30% are aware of the importance of having digital skills (reports: EC, PwC, Tytanki Pracy). Still 33% of Poles consider IT to be the domain of men, which indicates the need to change the perception and promotion of the role of women in technology ("Reskilling through the eyes of Poles 2023").
These figures clearly show that, as we face the extraordinary dynamics of technological change and digital transformation, there is a need to accelerate action on reskilling and equal access to career opportunities in the technology sector for women.
As Future Collars - a school focused on developing digital skills and competences in Poland - we would like to appeal to the entire technological community to accelerate and present 10 postulates aimed at facing these challenges.
With the following demands, we would like to initiate and stimulate cooperation for the development, retraining, professional development (reskilling) and upskilling of employees to meet the growing demand for specialists in the area of new technologies. We emphasize that acquiring digital and technological skills is no longer a choice, but a necessity in order to respond to the requirements of the modern labor market.
We want to start a dialogue about the role of education and continuous development in building the future. Investing in the development of employee skills is an investment in the future and competitiveness of the Polish economy.
We present 10 key recommendations that, if implemented, can significantly transform the future of the labor market, ensuring women have equal access to career opportunities in the technology industry and enabling them to fully utilize their competencies. We call for united forces to promote best practices, develop innovative solutions and accelerate and expand reskilling initiatives.
We believe that only through cooperation can we build a work environment that is inclusive, dynamic and competitive, able to face the challenges of the future.
We invite everyone to join our effort and cooperate in implementing these demands. Our goal is not only to meet the current needs of the labor market, but also to ensure the long-term and sustainable development of the Polish economy.
10 postulates that aim to support and improve initiatives related to retraining and improving skills
- Encourage individualization of learning paths: The opportunity for learners to determine their own learning paths should be promoted, which increases motivation to work and learn throughout life.
- Emphasize the importance of sustainable financing: Sustainable financing is key to ensuring high-quality education, and the role of microfinance for learners (usually provided by the government) is an important factor in the success of retraining initiatives.
- Integrating digital infrastructure into education: Digital tools and trainers with appropriate digital skills are essential to facilitate knowledge transfer and enhance learners' professional and educational opportunities.
- Support private sector involvement: Private financing can have a positive impact on the attractiveness of companies on the labor market and on the attractiveness of people who have undertaken privately financed retraining activities.
- Ensure the reintegration of learners into the labor market: Collaboration with employers is crucial to enable the reintegration of learners into the labor market after training.
- Promote companies' long-term skills visions: A national digital and skills strategy is also positively correlated with the development of companies' long-term visions in limit of skills.
- Pay attention to the need to align individual and company needs: It is important to combine short-term needs with long-term orientations and ensure win-win situations.
- Consider learner co-financing: Learner co-financing can be a strong additional motivator to complete a training course, although it may not apply to all target groups.
- Promote gender equality in the technology sector: It is important to actively work to build a technology sector free from gender stereotypes, where women are an integral part of the future of technology.
- Support educational initiatives aimed at girls and women: Developing specialized educational and career programs for girls and women from early childhood to adulthood is key to breaking down social stereotypes about women's participation in IT. Such initiatives help to increase the attractiveness of the sector for women and support their professional development
These ten recommendations pave the way for the future of the technology labor market, emphasizing the key role of reskilling, promoting inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities. They focus on supporting continuous professional development, strengthening the position of women in the IT industry, cooperation between various sectors, adapting innovative solutions in skills accreditation and promoting a culture of continuous learning. These recommendations aim not only to accelerate skills transformation, but also to build a more open, sustainable and competitive labor market where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
Kind regards
Beata Jarosz, CEO of Future Collars
Joanna Pruszyńska-Witkowska, VP Future Collars
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