Industry 4.0 And The Future Of Training Workers

Industry 4.0 describes the newest revolution in manufacturing and production, but with a twist. Knowing how to train employees for this next generation of work is critical. Here’s what industry 4.0 means for the future of training workers in whatever industry you're in. Industry 4.0 builds on the work of industry 3.0, where computerization was introduced and refined. Add smart systems, wireless connectivity, and virtual/augmented reality, and industry 4.0 is the result.

Training employees for industry 4.0 requires a balance between honoring the skillsets employees already have while adding to their abilities. This can be done with a couple of different approaches.Just because the way we build things and connect people is changing doesn’t mean you need to throw out the old employees to make way for new. In fact, upskilling employees has several distinct advantages over hiring a brand-new slate of workers. Upskilling also reduces the digital skills gap and fosters a better connection between employees and technology. This is critical as industry 4.0 moves forward (and looks towards the next revolution).

In order to meet the demands of a digital future under industry 4.0, workers, as well as their employers, will need to be more proactive about upskilling.According to the Google Australia-commissioned Future Skills report, to remain employable in the future, workers will need to make a habit of refreshing their skills and picking up new ones throughout their careers1. In other words, they must embrace lifelong learning.

A survey by Hays in 2018 found 77% of employers are more likely to shortlist a candidate who has regularly upskilled2. Yet even those who want to remain in their roles will need to continue learning. The Future Skills report predicts that workers’ job tasks will change by 18% every decade, requiring frequent skills refreshers to adapt to new developments3. However, this doesn’t mean that you will have to spend more time in the classroom undergoing formal education. Most upskilling opportunities occur in the workplace even at organisations that don’t offer official training and educational options. This can be in the form of mentorships, webinars and events, industry and professional associations, networking, and being part of projects outside your usual remit. These are in addition to the huge range of self-learning modules, short courses, micro credentials and certificate options on offer.