Understand why job market challenges are important for professional growth and how they reflect social, economic and technological transformations throughout history.
Talk about the job market challenges is, first of all, understanding the impact of the transformations that society has experienced over time.
O world of work is not immutable; it is always evolving. Thus, today's challenges do not arise in isolation, but as a consequence of a long chain of historical events that have shaped today's reality.
However, understanding these challenges is essential not only for PROFESSIONALS, but also for the client and for society itself.
Historically, the day has always played a central role in people's lives. For centuries, the economy was largely agrarian, and the majority of the population lived from cultivating the land.
However, with the Industrial Revolution, in the 18th century, a new model of production and work organization emerged.
As machines began to replace manual labor, and the cities began to concentrate large masses of workers in factories. This industrial model, although it brought benefits, also generated a series of new challenges.
Over time, the job market has evolved, especially since the twentieth century. The big ones World Wars and Technological Revolution profoundly changed the way people viewed work.
For example, after the Second World War, the concept of a “long-term career” lost strength, as companies began to demand more from their employees and professionals found themselves facing a more competitive reality.
Furthermore, the development of technology and modernization of the production processes introduced new forms of work, more specialized and qualified.
According to Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in the 1950s, Brazil experienced a transition from an agrarian economy to an industrialized economy, which expanded the job market and introduced new challenges.
Therefore, the work began to require a greater degree of adaptation and innovation by the workers.
The transition from agricultural to industrial work
As the world progressed, the job market also transformed. In twentieth century, urbanization and the shift to a free-market economy services became visible.
What was previously dominated by industries has now been driven by new sectors, such as trade and provision of services.
Consequently, companies began to adopt new management models, and the profile of the professional desired by organizations changed, requiring more specific skills.
A college education began to become an increasingly important requirement, which brought new challenges for those who did not have access to one academic training.
According to Ministry of Education (MEC) website, the expansion of University education in Brazil in the 1990s and 2000s it was crucial for the training of a new generation of qualified workers, but it also generated the need to adapt to a competitive market.
During this period, the competition intensified, and professionals began to face greater difficulties in remaining in the job market.
However, at the same time, this scenario opened doors for new ventures and the creation of small and medium-sized companies.
The rise of new models of business made it possible a greater number of options career, but it also generated the need to adapt to a more dynamic and volatile professional reality.
According to National Statistics Institute (INE), the number of small and medium-sized companies in the 1990s in Brazil grew considerably, reflecting a change in the profile of entrepreneurship.
Now at XXI century, technology began to play an even more decisive role. The popularization of the internet and social media, for example, brought new opportunities, but also new challenges.
As a result, workers had to adapt to the digital work, with new models of business being developed and employment platforms online expanding.
According to United Nations (UN), in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the process of Scan in the job market, creating a new scenario for professionals and companies around the world.
Contemporary challenges and the search for constant updating
Today the job market challenges are more complex than ever. The evolution of T and globalization created an extremely competitive environment.
First, a need for constant professional updating became more evident.
The knowledge acquired in students, for example, can quickly lose relevance, as the market is constantly changing.
Therefore, workers need to invest in continuous formation to remain competitive.
According to website of the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), the need to adapt to the job market globalized e digitized is one of the biggest challenges faced by professionals, with continuing education being a key factor for success.
In this context, the idea of life long learning - or continuous learning – has become one of the pillars for professional success.
Furthermore, the increase in population economically active and the growth of digital platforms recruitment became the competition even more fierce.
As a result, companies receive an increasing number of applications, which requires professionals to stand out, not only for experience, but also by behavioral skills and techniques.
In this sense, the Self development has become essential. However, this has also created challenges, as many professionals do not have the necessary resources to update themselves adequately.
According to UNESCO website, in the absence of access to technologies e quality education is still a significant challenge for inclusion in the labor market.
Another important point is the impact of social differences in accessing the job market.
Although employment opportunities have increased, people from different regions, social classes, genders and ethnicities still face significant obstacles.
For example, while some people have access to quality education, others struggle to overcome structural barriers that make it difficult for them to enter the job market.
Reducing these inequalities remains one of the biggest challenges in making the labor market more inclusive.
Technology-driven transformation and the fear of automation
Furthermore, technology, which has been an ally in many ways, has also brought a new set of challenges.
A automation and artificial intelligence are radically transforming the job market, replacing some human functions and creating new demands. As a result, many professionals face the fear of losing their jobs for machines.
However, it is important to note that at the same time, these innovations also create new opportunities.
About us that were unimaginable not long ago, like social media manager ou artificial intelligence developer, emerged as new options on the market.
A COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these transformations, popularizing the remote work and further exposing the need for adaptation.
Although the remote work has brought benefits such as greater flexibility and less time wasted on commuting, it has also imposed challenges related to productivityor a communication and the balance between personal and professional life.
Therefore, companies and professionals need to find a middle ground between these two realities, so that the remote work is beneficial for both the company and the employee.
According to McKinsey & Company website, in 2020, more than 60% of workers in Brazil started working remotely, highlighting the transformations in the job market caused by the pandemic.