present

Don't get left behind

Over time, the nature of work has evolved through distinct phases. In the past, during the "Muscles" era, physical labour and manual skills held paramount importance. This period, exemplified by the Industrial Revolution and earlier agricultural societies, demanded physical strength and endurance for jobs that revolved around labour-intensive tasks in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. Nowadays we are in the "Brain" phase, marked by the Information Age and technological advancements, knowledge work, problem-solving, creativity, and intellectual skills take centre stage. The contemporary workforce increasingly values cognitive abilities such as analysis, programming, design, and management, emphasising the significance of education and specialised skills. And in the future, we will enter the "Heart" phase where there will be a shift towards a greater emphasis on emotional intelligence, empathy, interpersonal skills, and values. I think as automation and artificial intelligence progress, it is likely that roles requiring human connection, understanding, and compassion will become more prominent, particularly in fields like healthcare, counselling, relationship management, and social support.