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The future of work

The digitalization of the economy and the world of work is in full swing. In the global race for digital value creation, the potential for companies and employees in Germany is enormous. However, companies and employees alike need more flexibility in order to adapt to market dynamics and successfully shape the digital transformation.

Photo: AdobeStock Rymden

Seizing opportunities for companies and employees

As a closely networked and highly technologized global location, the digital transformation of the German economy offers great opportunities. By setting the right course, SMEs and corporations can not only secure their leading global positions in a number of areas such as mechanical engineering, industry-related services and logistics, but also expand them even further. Start-ups can open up new markets worldwide with innovative business models. There is also enormous digital growth potential in the skilled trades and the entire service sector.

Higher productivity and growth create new jobs. Contrary to widespread myths and much-cited horror forecasts of widespread automation and mass job losses, we must not shy away from looking ahead. It is true that individual job profiles and activities will disappear. At the same time, however, numerous new ones will emerge and existing job profiles will continue to develop. This will not happen overnight. Rather, digitalization is a transformative process. Job requirements will continue to change. Education and training are therefore the key to creating participation in the digitalized world of work.

This has many advantages for employees: Technological advances mean that more and more people can work remotely and organize their work more flexibly for a better work-life balance and compatibility of family and career. Intelligent assistance systems (such as software applications, smart glasses, human-machine collaboration) make it easier for older employees to work and improve the integration of people with disabilities. Less qualified employees can also be supported in more complex tasks with the help of intelligent systems.

Enabling flexibility, ensuring global competitiveness

Digital change is a global phenomenon and will not wait for us in Germany to adapt. The aim must be to attract investment and create jobs here in Germany and Europe. The digitalization debate must focus primarily on how we can actively and positively shape the transformation of the economic and working world. Openness to new technologies, business models and forms of employment is central to this.

Innovation needs freedom. We all expect more and more speed, individualized products and round-the-clock service from companies. Only flexible companies will therefore be successful in the long term. And only flexible jobs are secure jobs. Employers and employees are in the same boat here. Only if companies and their employees can adapt to dynamic developments will we continue to secure growth and employment, and therefore prosperity, in our country in the future. Politicians must set a smart framework for this. In concrete terms, this means

A comprehensive digital education offensive that promotes individual and lifelong learning from
Schulbildung
to the company
Weiterbildung
The swift implementation of
Fachkräftestrategie
in order to quickly and effectively combat the worsening shortage of skilled workers.
A modern and flexible
Arbeitsrecht
that meets the needs of companies and employees in the digital age and makes
agiles Arbeiten
possible.
Datenschutz neu denken
to enable and promote the use of innovative technologies.
Create framework conditions for creative
tarifvertragliche Lösungen
.