Continuous Learning: the need of the hour

It is said that change is the only constant and this statement stands truer today than ever before. Our world is continuously evolving. The climate patterns are changing and so are the living conditions; people’s mindsets are changing and so are the global trends. With newer innovations every day, we are experiencing an unprecedented rate of transformation in our daily lives. This calls for an update in our personal and professional attitudes.

Gone are the times when one could find a niche and make a comfortable life out of it. A global study predicts that more than 75% jobs in 2030 have not been created yet. This implies that every working person in this world has at least 75% probability of becoming irrelevant if he/she does not adapt to the changing work environment. Thus continuous learning is the need of the hour if one wants to stay relevant in the modern world.

We are already witnessing how robots and automation are taking up human jobs in the manufacturing sector, thus rendering them jobless or, to put it harshly, obsolete. However, this trend can be seen in a very positive light. Manufacturing jobs have long been considered hazardous to us both physically and psychologically. Many people have been disabled during work at manufacturing plant; also, the incessant loud noise and mundane work at these factories causes severe damage to the brain. By taking up our routine jobs, robots are enabling us to explore new jobs in the field of services and knowledge. Thus robots instead of being a competition, have become a tool for us to extend our limits.

Continuous learning, thus, becomes the magnetic compass that will help us navigate the dynamic job market and help us explore newer job sectors. Most multi-national companies have already realized this and are heavily investing in the up-skilling and reskilling of its employees. With more and more employers realizing the importance of continuous learning for their employees, the imperative now lies with the employees to get out of their comfort zones and embrace new learning opportunities. We now must respond to the changes in the global markets, adopt new technologies and industry trends. This will not only help us to stay apace with the world but also help us become more satisfied professionals.

Moreover, this is not only true at a professional level but also at a personal level. It was believed earlier that ‘you cannot teach an old dog a new trick’. However a recent study has disproved this saying. It is now widely believed that there is no age limit for developing new skills and people who embrace new skills at an older age tend to be more adaptable and have dynamic versatile personalities. This gives them a competitive advantage in their social and professional life which ensures their long term success.