85% Of Jobs That Will Exist In 2030 Haven’t Been Invented Yet: Dell | HuffPost

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Get ready for a globalized workforce and a lifetime of retraining, report from Dell says.

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Dell Inc. signage is displayed outside of the company's headquarters in Austin, Texas on Feb. 18, 2013. The company has issued a report arguing that 85 per cent of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven't yet been invented.

If you think the pace of change in the workplace has been fast lately, hold onto your hat. A new report published by Dell Technologies says things are about to get a lot faster.

So fast, in fact, that 85 per cent of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven't even been invented yet, estimates the report, which was authored by the Institute for the Future (IFTF) and a panel of 20 tech, business and academic experts from around the world.

"The pace of change will be so rapid that people will learn 'in the moment' using new technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality. The ability to gain new knowledge will be more valuable than the knowledge itself," Dell Technologies said in a statement.

In other words, get ready for a lifetime of skills training and retraining, in real time.

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And get ready for the very nature of work to change, the report argues. Rather than people chasing jobs, "work will chase people."

In an extension of today's "gig economy," companies will set out tasks to be completed, then use information technology to match the task with the people and technology that have the necessary skills, anywhere in the world.

"Instead of expecting workers to bear the brunt of finding work, work will compete for the best resource to complete the job," the report says.

"By loosening the ties between work and geography, it will be possible to chip away at the misalignment of global talent that exists today."

Bloomberg via Getty Images

Dell Inc. signage is displayed outside of the company's headquarters in Austin, Texas, U.S., on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. The company has published a report arguing that 85 per cent of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven't even been invented today.

But the report notes this radical shift from full-time work to a "gig economy" could come with problems, including social disruption.

"Businesses will need to manage this shift carefully," the report says. "Upon first glance, any reduction in full-time employment could seem perilous for the economic stability of individuals and families."

But the shift in the nature of work "will unleash novel opportunities for a diverse pool of truly global talent."

The report avoids the "doom and gloom" scenario where machines take people's jobs and "humans become a non-entity," Dell's senior VP of marketing, Gaurav Chand, told IT World Canada.

"We don't believe that to be true, and the research does not believe that to be true. Instead, the notion is that the tasks that we are used to doing today are going to be replaced by tasks of the future, some of which we know, and some of which we have yet to discover."

Also on HuffPost:

Jobs of the Future

Nostalgist(01 of10)

Basically an interior designer for retirees, the "nostalgist" will re-design living spaces for wealthy seniors to reflect their favourite decades. Just imagine living in a college dorm room or your grandmother's house for the rest of your life! (credit:Homefinder)

Rewilder(02 of10)

Talk about taking the land back! A "rewilder's" job will be to remediate lands that have been decimated by industrial activity such as factories, cars and monoculture farming. They would replace roads with forests, reintroduce native species and take out fences to restore birds' flight paths. Just imagine how much money a "rewilder" could make restoring the oilsands! (credit:Getty Images)

Tele-surgeon(03 of10)

People living in remote communities are having increasing difficulty accessing medical care. That may necessitate the advent of the "tele-surgeon," who would operate on people in far away locations using robotic tools. If doctors are already making virtual house calls, why not this? (credit:Getty Images)

Garbage Designer(04 of10)

Forget recycling; "upcycling" is the wave of the future. It's a process of turning waste into useful products, such as old magazines into place mats or flower pots. "Garbage designers" will be the experts in how to turn discarded products into items we need. They could be in hot demand from companies that want to turn waste into clothes, toys and furniture. (credit:Getty Images)

Simplicity Expert(05 of10)

The 20th century gave us "efficiency experts," so perhaps the 21st century will give us "simplicity" instead. These experts will find ways to reduce administrative workload, job interviews, even working hours. A keen understanding of social science will be important for this role. (credit:Getty Images)

Healthcare Navigator(06 of10)

A professional who helps people navigate complicated health care systems is something we need sooner rather than later. These people would teach patients the ins and outs of such a system and help families cope with stressful times. (credit:Getty Images)

Aquaponic Fish Farmer(07 of10)

With global warming and increasing stress on water bodies from industrial activity, it can be more difficult for fish to survive in their natural habitats. Thus, they become tougher to catch. Aquaponics, a smaller-scale version of fish farming that takes fewer resources, might hold the answer. This system would combine fish farming with gardening, having plants grow over water with the fish living beneath them. The plants would add oxygen to the water and fish waste would help fertilize the greenery. (credit:Getty Images)

Solar Technology Specialist(08 of10)

As we move forward, we'll be looking for more efficient and sustainable ways to obtain energy. As such, we may find ourselves looking increasingly toward the sun. Solar technology specialists would help building owners to design and maintain panels in cities and manage grids in the countryside. (credit:Getty Images)

Neighbourhood Watch Officer(09 of10)

Drones are all the rage at the moment, with applications such as real estate marketing and search and rescue. One day, they may even be useful for neighbourhood watches. Officers with such detachments would use the drones to monitor cars, unsecured homes and even keep watch for fire patrol. (credit:IMDb)

Robot Counsellor(10 of10)

Robots are taking on an increasingly important role in the family home. The robot counsellor of the future will work much like a family counsellor, ensuring that a household has the right one working for it, particularly when it comes to assisting elderly people. A counsellor will observe the family's interactions and if conflicts happen, the robot can help provide better options. (credit:Getty Images)

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