Stay Ahead of the Game

If you can carry on being a valuable asset in the workplace, you and your employer will reap the benefits. A growing number of employers are paying attention to sustainable employability for this exact reason. Nevertheless, it’s still your own responsibility. So, how do you manage your employability in the long run?

The term “Sustainable employability” has only emerged in recent years. It was introduced around 2017, when governments and employers became aware of the impact that demographic, economic and technological developments have on the labour market. Ageing is a good example that causes the average professional lifespan of the workforce and the retirement age to rise, which calls for more attention to the health and vitality of employees. Yet, sustainable employability goes beyond just this.

Digitalisation and technological innovations are radically changing many professions. It is quite possible that your job responsibilities will look completely different in five years from today. Some professions will even disappear completely, but new positions will also be added. The question is therefore not so much whether you are fit, but whether you are still ‘fit for the job at hand’.

Whatever position and sector you are active in – and in whatever phase of your career you are, you probably want to keep being valuable to others until you retire. In order to do this, you will have to continue developing throughout your working life. Anyone who doesn’t continuously advance his or her skills will sooner or later miss out on the knowledge, skills or competencies required to be able to excel in the profession at hand. This continuous development benefits your job satisfaction, health and productivity.

Most employees are well aware that they have to take control of their careers and that they are responsible for their employability. After all, nobody knows your career preferences and development priorities better than yourself. Organisations, in turn, are aware that in order to remain agile, they must invest in the development of their workforce. The majority of employers therefore offer employees ample space to work on their development, both inside and outside the work environment.

In addition to subject-specific knowledge and skills, the importance of so-called “21st-century skills” is increasing. These are the competencies you need to be able to participate successfully in modern society where knowledge and networks are replacing the industrial society. This involves developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and social skills. Such competencies are already important now and will only become more prevalent in the years to come.

Building 21^st century skills will include informal learning at the workplace as well as more formal learning in professional courses and programmes. For professionals searching for ways to develop or strengthen their skills for the future, UMIO offers a broad portfolio of programmes ranging from MBAs and executive Master’s to short management courses, workshops and masterclasses. For employers seeking to advance the informal learning power of their organisation, we offer customised programmes tailored to the exact needs of the organisation.

For more information, please consult our programme overview.