WEBINAR

Career Development and Major Choices in the Post-Pandemic Era

21 September 2021

Virtual Conference organized within the framework of cooperation between the State Employment Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Turkish Employment Agency “İŞKUR” and the World Association of Public Employment Services
Hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan

The COVID-19 pandemic confinements and the resulting global recession of 2020 have resulted in a very uncertain labour market outlook and accelerated the evolution of the future working world. According to the World Economic Forum (2020) report, 43% of companies surveyed stated they would reduce their workforce through the use of new technologies, 41% plan to increase outsourcing of specialised tasks and only 34% plan to hire more staff as a result of this technology integration. The pandemic has brought about new concepts such as ‘re-skilling’ and ‘upskilling’. In a newly restricted labour market, the opportunity for re-qualification and upskilling of workers is shrinking. For those workers who remain in their jobs, 40% will have to adjust their essential skills over the next five years, and half of all employees will be required to learn new qualifications (+4%). The public sector needs to provide more support for retraining and upgrading the skills of at-risk or relocated workers. Currently, only 21% of companies surveyed rely on public funds for retraining and upskilling their employees. The public sector will have to deliver incentives for investment in the sectors and jobs of the future, and provide stronger protective measures for displaced workers in career transitions, as well as firmly tackle the long delayed improvement of education and training systems.

The statistics and figures reflect this rapidly changing labour market quite accurately. With the rapid advances in science and technology and the increasing competition, the importance of skills and intellectual abilities in determining a person’s strengths and potential has become increasingly obvious. It is therefore essential to make sure that the necessary skills and qualifications are acquired not only to survive but also to further develop in this period.

Our brain is our driving force in modern times. Thus, by exercising our brain, we will be prepared to face new changes. To anticipate short-term upheavals and prepare for longer-term trends, it is necessary to acquire or improve current competences, such as problem-solving skills (analytical thinking and innovation; complex problem-solving, critical and analytical thinking; creativity, originality and initiative; reasoning, solution and ideation), self-control (active and strategic learning; resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility), etc.

To understand and analyse the current labour market situation and to come up with solutions, we will discuss and answer questions related to professional and job evolution.

Objectives

1.Understand how the Covid-19 has affected the labour market and the evolution of the professions.
2.Tailor the labour market and career development to this emerging challenge
3.Analyse the impact of the pandemic on career guidance services
4.Anticipate the labour market evolution in the post pandemic phase.

Target audience

WAPES Member States representatives

Following the conference’s main theme, the following topics will be discussed:

1. What were the effects of the pandemic on the labour market and career development?

a)What happened?
b)Was the labour market prepared for this situation?

2. How far has the labour market and professional development had to be adapted to cope with this change?

a)What was the reaction of the national authorities?
b)What was Azerbaijan’s response as a nation? (here as a ministry) (here as a ministry)
c)What was the response from government bodies?
d)What was the response from business?
e)What was the response of the education system?
f)What was the response of the unemployed and jobseekers?

3. How has the pandemic affected career guidance services?

a)What were the problems encountered in terms of timelines?
b)Which recent developments have taken place?
c)What kind of innovations were implemented? (in terms of careers and public policy)

4. What are the labour market prospects in the post-pandemic period?

a)Possible changes in state and international organisations’ policies
b)Changes within companies
c)Changes in the educational system
d)Emergence of career guidance services

Programme

Introduction Moderator