he issue of the future workforce is an urgent one. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Census 2023, about 79 percent people in Pakistan are below the age of 40. This large proportion of young people could prove a blessing provided they are educated and equipped with the skills needed in the 21st Century.

It is believed that a large number of familiar jobs will vanish and many new jobs, requiring a new set of skills will emerge in the future. According to the World Economic Forum report 2023, employers anticipate that approximately 69 million new jobs will be created and 83 million positions will be eliminated, resulting in a net decrease of 14 million jobs, or 2 percent of current employment levels. The report highlights that nearly a quarter of jobs (23 percent) are projected to undergo transformation during this period, with 10.2 percent of roles experiencing growth and 12.3 percent facing decline. This is a serious challenge for educational planning in Pakistan in terms of identifying the nature of future jobs and the requisite skills for such jobs.

The central question is: what will be the contours of potential new jobs in the future? According to the report, technology adoption is crucial. 85 percent of all organizations are emphasising digital access and technologies like artificial intelligence. Big data and cloud computing are top adoption priorities, with digital platforms and e-commerce leading. It is expected that 42 percent of the tasks will be automated by 2027.

Another major question is: what skills will be required to perform the tasks for the emerging jobs in the future? According to this report, analytical and creative thinking are the top skills for 2023, with self-efficacy skills also in demand. Companies report that 44 percent of workers’ skills will be disrupted by 2027, emphasising up-skilling in analytical thinking, creative thinking and tech literacy. Nearly 60 percent of workers will require re-skilling by 2027.

A direct consequence of these scenarios is the need to revisit the educational system. Long-term educational planning has become quite challenging because of the expedited pace of change as the future work force scenario is constantly evolving. One aspect of the problem is that 26.09 million children are out of schools. This problem is further aggravated by a high dropout rate, (38 percent by the time the students reach Grade 8).

Another aspect of the problem is the quality of education. Are we preparing out students to deal with the future challenges? The answer is a big ‘No’. In most educational institutions in Pakistan education is seen as transmission of information from teachers to the students. The existing assessment system in Pakistan taps only lower order thinking skills. It revolves around memory and recall.

Are we preparing out students to deal with the future challenges? The answer is a big ‘No’. In most educational institutions in Pakistan education is viewed as transmission of information from teachers to the students.

Pakistan, thus, faces a unique challenge with reference to its future work force because of the skills gap. This vast gap obstructs the adoption of new technologies and thus hampers productivity. Analytical and creative thinking are becoming essential skills globally, while technological literacy, resilience and flexibility are also highly valued. However, Pakistan’s education system has yet to integrate these skills into curricula at all levels.

The report indicates that training and reskilling are vital in building the future workforce. However, only half of workers worldwide currently have access to adequate training. The situation is even worse in Pakistan, where access to continuous professional development is limited. Targeted investments in skill development programs, particularly in AI, big data and environmental management, could bridge this gap. Re-skilling initiatives can help displaced workers transition from obsolete roles to emerging roles, ultimately reducing Pakistan’s vulnerability to automation.

An area with significant potential for workforce growth in Pakistan is the green economy. The report highlights that investments in green jobs and ESG (environmental, social and governance) standards are expected to be major drivers of job creation globally. Given Pakistan’s energy challenges and environmental vulnerabilities, shifting toward renewable energy and green infrastructure is both a necessity and an opportunity. Roles such as renewable energy engineers, sustainability specialists and environmental analysts are expected to grow, driven by public and private investment in green technologies.

The report’s findings highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion, with a majority of companies worldwide prioritising women in workforce transformation initiatives. Pakistan has one of the lowest female labour force participation rates globally. Addressing this disparity is essential for economic growth. Programmes that promote women’s participation in the workforce, provide flexible working options and ensure equal access to training opportunities are needed. Empowering women with digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills and access to technology can significantly increase their workforce participation.

Here are some recommendations for preparing students to become an effective part of future work force. The first and foremost required action is to enhance allocation of funds for education. This allocation in 2023 was only 1.5 percent of GDP, far below the threshold level of 4-6 percent of GDP. There is an urgent need to prioritides kills required for the future jobs. These skills include analytical thinking, technological literacy and creative problem-solving in the educational system and through corporate training programmes. To prepare the future work force it is important to embrace technological advancements, expand green job opportunities, support women’s participation and promote vocational training.

These essential measures may not only help prepare Pakistan’s workforce to cope with the future challenges but also lay the foundation for socioeconomic development by integrating education, policy and business strategy.

The writer is an educationist. He can be reached at: shahidksiddiqui@gmail.com