Career pathways

Charting a course in a nonlinear job market.

As the nature of work changes, the paths people take to prepare for and find good jobs also change. Many jobs that are commonplace today didn’t exist even 15 years ago, and many more existed but looked completely different.

New technologies, increased specialization, and demographic shifts are accelerating changes in the labor market and making less linear career paths the norm.

What successful career pathways look like

For workers, this means a greater need to have strong foundational and transferable skills. For governments, there’s a need for more real-time intelligence on local labor market dynamics. Policy makers also have options to help workers and businesses navigate the opportunities and risks of the modern labor market by:

● Leaning in to digital platforms for labor market information
● Investing in foundational skills for all
● Better aligning technical training to employer needs
● Encouraging post-secondary education
● Promoting the development of more credible skills
● Making networking a key career strategy
● Investing in diversity and promoting inclusion