Digital, manufacturing, construction, childcare, health, science and financial services – just some of the industries parents across Scotland are being told will be in more demand for skills over the next ten years.
By 2025, there will be thousands of new roles across Scotland, including 25,200 positions in STEM, 27,500 vacancies within the health and care sector and 9,300 skilled jobs in construction, building, metal and electrical trades.
As part of Scotland’s Biggest Parents’ Evening (SBPE), organised by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), events taking place across Scotland are bringing parents, carers, businesses and young people together to prepare the workforce of tomorrow.
It’s been reported that more than half of the roles that will be in demand in ten years’ time haven’t been invented yet, with SBPE launched by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s DYW Glasgow team in 2019 to educate and inspire parents and carers about how they can support young people in attaining the skills required to meet this demand.
21 regional Developing the Young Workforce groups throughout the country, funded by the Scottish Government, are involved in the now national campaign with an ambitious aim to bridge the gap between industry and education.
An event hosted on January 30 by DYW Glasgow, in partnership with DYW Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow Science Centre and Skills Development Scotland, told more than 900 attendees of the changing world of work which has been impacted by technology and society.
The event, hosted by Alison McRae, senior director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce which delivers DYW Glasgow, explored how careers will change in the future and what skills and experience young people will need to succeed in the evolving job landscape, with a 4% increase in employment in Glasgow (40,600 jobs).
Six growth sector hubs were set up giving parents the chance to find out more about construction, STEM, digital and creative media, finance and business, health and social care, and hospitality and tourism, with more than 30 businesses in attendance.
Alison McRae said: “As the future unfolds around us, the world of work is evolving. Technological and societal changes mean we must consider the impact of artificial intelligence, new technologies, the population shift and of course climate change. We need to embrace this and embrace it now because these changes mean that opportunities are created within the job market.
“The word ‘career’ doesn’t mean what it used to and it can be challenging for parents to navigate the ever-changing landscape and to have the confidence to advise and prepare their children.
“Our aim through this #bigparentseve campaign is to influence the influencers: to get parents to have a better understanding of the many opportunities which will be available from Glasgow’s businesses and how they can be supportive and prepared to help the next generation make informed choices about the future world of work.”
Paula Leca, STEM Futures coordinator at Glasgow Science Centre, said: “The Parents’ Evening was a chance for parents and guardians to meet major employers face-to-face to find out what the jobs of the future will be in Glasgow, and the different pathways towards amazing careers in growth industries.
“Banks need computing whizzes who can develop apps and code that will increase cyber security. Laser manufacturers need skilled assistants as well as physics experts. Manufacturers need people who can think out of the box and transform how we create things in Scotland, from automotive parts to shower panels.
“I’m positive that parents will have come away from this event more confident about helping their child navigate the opportunities available in Glasgow and further afield.”
Attendees from across Glasgow were also offered free transport to and from the event, with FirstBus setting up pick up points in Parkhead, Drumchapel, Govanhill, Bridgton, Knightswood and Castlemilk.
Further events were hosted across Ayrshire, Edinburgh, West Lothian, the Borders, Moray, Forth Valley, Dundee and Angus, and the North East, bringing parents, carers and young people together with the key industries of the future.
