Job obsolescence, occupational obsolescence or skills obsolescence is a situation in which an occupation loses its field of work or its

competitiveness Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, individ ...

is reduced compared to another more efficient one that fulfills the same function. This type of

obsolescence Obsolescence is the process of becoming antiquated, out of date, old-fashioned, no longer in general use, or no longer useful, or the condition of being in such a state. When used in a biological sense, it means imperfect or rudimentary when comp ...

is due to multiple factors, among the main ones are the development of new technologies that replace activities carried out by humans, as well as trades and economic activities that use objects that are discontinued due to

cost reduction Cost reduction is the process used by organisations aiming to reduce their costs and increase their profits, or to accommodate reduced income. Depending on a company’s services or products, the strategies can vary. Every decision in the produ ...

or search for greater

efficiency Efficiency is the often measurable ability to avoid making mistakes or wasting materials, energy, efforts, money, and time while performing a task. In a more general sense, it is the ability to do things well, successfully, and without waste. ...

Job obsolescence

It is common with the development of new technologies and the passing of the years, some occupations that were previously profitable later become obsolete. A specific case of this is the job of

lamplighter A lamplighter or gaslighter is a person employed to light and maintain street lights. These included candles, oil lamps, and gas lighting. Public street lighting was developed in the 16th century. During this time, lamplighters toured public s ...

, which progressively disappeared after the invention of

electric lamp Electric light is an artificial light source powered by electricity. Electric Light may also refer to: * Light fixture, a decorative enclosure for an electric light source * ''Electric Light'' (album), a 2018 album by James Bay * Electric Light ( ...

s and their widespread use in

street lighting A street light, light pole, lamp pole, lamppost, streetlamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or path. Similar lights may be found on a railway platform. When urban electric power distribution b ...

. Experts in

labor market Labour economics seeks to understand the functioning and dynamics of the Market (economics), markets for wage labour. Labour (human activity), Labour is a commodity that is supplied by labourers, usually in exchange for a wage paid by demanding ...

and

employability Employability refers to the attributes of a person that make that person able to gain and maintain employment. Overview Employability is related to work and the ability to be employed, such as: *The ability to gain initial employment; hence the ...

recommend to workers stay up to date on the time projections of the paid activities they carry out, as well as consider

innovation Innovation is the practical implementation of ideas that result in the introduction of new goods or service (economics), services or improvement in offering goods or services. ISO TC 279 in the standard ISO 56000:2020 defines innovation as "a n ...

as an important factor in their tasks. In most cases, particularly after the

Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution, sometimes divided into the First Industrial Revolution and Second Industrial Revolution, was a transitional period of the global economy toward more widespread, efficient and stable manufacturing processes, succee ...

, the emergence of new technologies brings with it fears about the loss of work and careers by sectors of workers who would be directly affected by implementing the new functions. However, it has been proven that applying new functions always brings with it the creation of new job alternatives with the creation of new tasks and occupations within a productive chain. According to

Gallup Gallup may refer to: * Gallup, Inc., a firm founded by George Gallup, well known for its opinion poll * Gallup (surname), a surname *Gallup, New Mexico, a city in New Mexico, United States ** Gallup station, an Amtrak train in downtown Gallup, New ...

, by 2023, 22% of workers in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

expressed concerns about losing their jobs due to the potential obsolescence of their roles as a result of technological advancements.

Obsolescence of skills

The evolution of the labor market, the increase and improvements in services with the use of new technologies that reduce the costs of processes, make them faster or of better quality, as happens with

automation Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, mainly by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machine ...

, it brings with it changes in the work skills of workers who perform a specific task. A common example that occurs with this is in computing, once new

productivity software Productivity software (also called personal productivity software or office productivity software) is application software used for producing information (such as documents, presentations, worksheets, databases, charts, graphs, digital painting ...

is released, such as office suites, or improved versions of these with new functions, users ( office workers) must also stay updated with the use of these new systems. Otherwise, they will lose skills in their daily activities. The

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training The European Centre for the Development of Professional Training (Cedefop) is an agency of the European Union. The Agency was established in 1975. Cedefop is headquartered and located in Thessaloniki Region, Greece, and has a Brussels office. C ...

(Cedefop), an agency of the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

(EU), recommends in the face of these events that all parties involved in a production process,

employer Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any ot ...

and

employee Employment is a relationship between two party (law), parties Regulation, regulating the provision of paid Labour (human activity), labour services. Usually based on a employment contract, contract, one party, the employer, which might be a cor ...

, must take responsibility and take an active part in the face of the obsolescence of skills. In 1974, the educational technology expert

Roger Kaufman Roger Kaufman (1932–2020), was an American figure in the history of educational technology and performance improvement, as well as in strategic thinking and planning for public and private-sector organizations. He is regarded as one of the fiel ...

defined the obsolescence of skills as "the extent to which professionals lack updated skills and knowledge", grouping them into two types: * Obsolescence of physical skills: related to wear,

atrophy Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include mutations (which can destroy the gene to build up the organ), malnutrition, poor nourishment, poor circulatory system, circulation, loss of hormone, ...

and natural deterioration that decreases a person's physical performance. * Obsolescence of intellectual competencies: when skills and knowledge, as well as other resources, such as technique and experience, lose relevance or are no longer necessary. Obsolescence related to physical skills as a result of human aging is usually replaced with

generational change A generation gap or generational gap is a difference of opinions and outlooks between one generation and another. These differences may relate to beliefs, politics, language, work, demographics and values. The differences between generations can ...

References

{{Reflist Obsolescence History of work Job

Job obsolescence

Obsolescence of skills

See also

References