Working in future. Summary

The world of work in industry is changing: globalisation, growing demand for services, new organisational models, emerging technologies (biotechnology, nanotechnology, ambient intelligence) - many factors are driving the process of change. How these drivers will develop and what work structures can be expected in five to ten years is the subject of this study conducted at Fraunhofer ISI. For this purpose, the researchers evaluated future studies and analysed in parallel which changes have already taken hold. According to the study, two critical developments will become even more acute in the future: The low-skilled will find it even more difficult to find work in the future. At the same time, the shortage of skilled workers - especially engineers, natural scientists and economists - will continue to increase as a result of the identified trends. Here, the study recommends, all options for action should be explored to counteract effectively. Further recommendations are aimed at making the range of training and further education in biotechnology and nanotechnology more application-oriented or placing more emphasis on services in training.