Latest news with #FutureOfWork
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Forum in Salalah concludes with bold visions for the future of work
Salalah – The Future of Work Forum concluded today at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah. The two-day forum, organised by the Ministry of Labour as part of the Labour Forum 2025, saw the wide participation of experts and specialists from the public and private sectors from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman. The second day of the forum featured extensive dialogue sessions that discussed key topics related to the work environment, attracting talent, and the importance of social dialogue in building sustainable labor markets. The first session, titled 'A Motivating Work Environment and Attracting Talent,' featured four working papers focusing on the role of social protection in supporting the labor market, career guidance and counseling to empower the workforce, effective public-private sector partnerships, and the role of occupational health and safety systems in stimulating work environments. The 'Social Dialogue and the Future of Labor Markets' session was also dedicated to an extensive discussion involving a number of researchers who presented working papers during the forum. They reviewed the most prominent challenges and proposed solutions, emphasising the importance of building effective models for social dialogue that contribute to developing labor policies and achieving balance among production stakeholders. In a related context, the Student Projects Exhibition, titled 'Future Talents…Think and Act,' continues its activities as part of the Work Forum, with the participation of students from vocational colleges. Today, the exhibition featured a workshop titled 'Psychological and Professional Resilience: A Essential Skill in the Modern Work Environment.' The exhibition continues until August 7.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Forum charts bold vision for Oman's labour market
SALALAH: The Ministry of Labour wrapped up its 'Future of Work Forum' on Tuesday, capping two days of dynamic discussions that brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and labour market experts from Oman and abroad. Held as part of Labour Forum 2025, the event explored how Oman's work environment is evolving — and what must be done to make it future-ready. From social protections to career guidance and the rise of mental resilience in the workplace, the sessions reflected a bold vision to reshape how people live and work in Oman. One of the headline sessions, 'Fostering an Enabling Work Environment and Attracting Talent", tackled some of the most pressing questions in the labour space. Experts discussed how stronger public-private partnerships, better occupational safety, and smarter social protection systems can empower Omanis to thrive in tomorrow's economy. Another key panel, 'Social Dialogue and the Future of Labour Markets", focused on how inclusive conversations among governments, businesses and workers can help shape balanced, fair and resilient labour policies. Participants called for new models of engagement to ensure that all voices — from factory floors to boardrooms — have a role in shaping the future of work. Running alongside the main forum, the 'Future Talents: Thought and Work' student exhibition continued to draw visitors. Featuring creative projects by vocational college students, the exhibition included a standout workshop on 'Psychological and Professional Resilience' — a timely reminder that soft skills are just as vital as technical ones in today's workplace. The exhibition remains open to the public until Thursday, August 7.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Forum discusses impact of tech on jobs and skills
SALALAH: Oman has officially launched the 'Future of the World of Work Forum' in Salalah, marking a major milestone in national and regional efforts to prepare for fast-evolving changes in the labour market. Organised by the Ministry of Labour as part of the broader Labour Forum, the event is taking place over two days in Dhofar Governorate and brings together a wide range of experts, policymakers and academics from across Oman and the Gulf. The forum aims to generate actionable recommendations that enhance national employment strategies Held at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment, the forum serves as a strategic platform to explore how economic and technological transformations are reshaping jobs, skills and employment systems. The goal is to anticipate future shifts and develop policies that equip Oman's workforce — and those across the GCC — with the tools to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. On its first day, the forum featured two major dialogue sessions addressing pressing issues facing today's labour markets. The first session, titled 'Major Transformations and the Sustainability of Labour Markets', presented three policy-driven working papers on economic transformations, employment policies focused on continuous learning, and GCC approaches to labour market sustainability. The forum aims to generate actionable recommendations that enhance national employment strategies The second session focused on education and skills under the theme 'Economic Transformations and the Future of Skills: The GCC Context.' Speakers shared insights on leading the employment ecosystem through governance models, forecasting skills needs to meet development goals and the evolving role of education policy. The forum's themes align with Oman Vision 2040 and the broader Gulf vision for inclusive, sustainable and knowledge-based economic growth. It aims to generate actionable recommendations that enhance national employment strategies and ensure regional human capital can adapt to future challenges. Running alongside the main forum is an exhibition titled 'Future Talents... Thought and Action', featuring innovative student projects from vocational colleges across Oman. This space provides young Omanis a platform to showcase their creativity and readiness for the future workforce. A special session held as part of the exhibition discussed vocational training and entrepreneurship to empower youth to take an active role in sustainable development. The 'Future of the World of Work Forum' underlines Oman's proactive commitment to preparing a resilient and future-ready workforce, capable of navigating global shifts while driving national and regional prosperity. 2025 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Legendary investor Vinod Khosla advises Gen Z to invest in this one skill because ChatGPT can teach you everything else
In a candid and far-reaching discussion on Nikhil Kamath's YouTube channel, legendary venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, one of Fortune's most powerful people in business, delivered some advice for Gen Z. It could be seen as a stark warning or as simple pragmatism: The single most important skill for young workers at this moment is not specialization, but the ability to learn rapidly and adapt continuously. His reasoning is simple yet profound: 'ChatGPT can teach you any new areas,' rendering traditional academic paths and fixed skill sets increasingly obsolete. The title of the episode was more blunt: 'College Degrees Are Becoming Useless.' The Sun Microsystems cofounder, known for his contrarian views and unwavering certainty in technological possibilities, painted a future where artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally transform the job market. He asserted that 'there isn't a job where AI won't be able to do 80% of 80% of all jobs' within the next three to five years. He explained that the vast majority of all job functions will be replicable by AI, hence the 80% of 80% estimate. It recalled Sam Altman's claim that AI will result in 'intelligence too cheap to meter.' Looking 10 to 15 years out, Khosla said, he believes 'there's no chance there's a job that humans do that AI can't do almost as well.' He allowed for some minor exceptions and said even heart or brain surgery an AI should theoretically be able to perform to a high level, although regulation may not allow it. This rapid pace of change, faster than the world has seen in the past 50 years, demands a radical shift in how young people approach their careers, he argued. For a 22-year-old wondering where to focus their efforts, Khosla's advice is clear: 'You have to optimize your career for flexibility, not a single profession.' He emphasized that the value of learning lies not in mastering one specific trade like welding, finance, or even accounting, but in cultivating 'the ability to learn' in its own right. He claimed that at 70 years old, he is learning at a much faster pace than ever before, and every young person should strive for this capability. This includes thinking from first principles and jumping into diverse fields, whether physics, biology, or finance, because AI tools will facilitate the rapid acquisition of new knowledge. Khosla argued that even disciplines like computer science are valuable less for programming expertise (which AI increasingly handles) and more for the 'process of thinking' and understanding systems and architectures they impart. The ultimate goal for a young individual, he suggests, is to choose a path where 'your knowledge compounds and your capability compounds over time,' mirroring the principle of financial compounding in knowledge acquisition. The quality of the entrepreneur For aspiring entrepreneurs, Khosla advises a strategic focus, since he believes that anybody in any industry not using AI will be rendered obsolete by somebody who is using the tool. While AI may democratize technology, he said, success will hinge on the innate 'quality of the entrepreneur'—their ability to think strategically, envision long-term goals, select the right teams, and wisely choose who to trust for advice. Khosla believes the current shortage is not of technology or capital, but of 'great entrepreneurs who know how to make these choices.' Beyond individual careers, Khosla and Kamath talked about the wider implications of AI on the economy. Khosla said it should drive down the cost of many things, acting as a deflationary force on many services, and he envisioned an AI-powered utopian future where services like education, medical expertise, and legal advice become 'almost free.' He speculated that in 20 to 25 years, $10,000 might buy more goods and services than $50,000 does today, thanks to the deflationary impact of machines providing abundant services. The career path open to Gen Z Khosla is far from the only thought leader weighing in on the employment prospects for Gen Z in the age of AI. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have engaged in an ever-more-heated war of words over the former's doomsday prediction that 50% of all white-collar jobs will be wiped out. Geoffrey Hinton, the 'godfather of AI,' has largely agreed with Amodei, saying that only the 'very skilled' will remain employed. Huang and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell have largely agreed with Khosla, arguing that creativity and constant learning will create new jobs for the economy in a virtuous cycle. Goldman Sachs chief economist Jan Hatzius has looked at the data and echoed Khosla's argument that college degrees are losing value, finding that the 'safety premium' of a college degree is disappearing. Berkeley economist Brad DeLong agrees that the college degree is losing its status but casts the blame away from AI and toward the policy uncertainty plaguing the economy, arguing that many Gen Z college graduates are going unhired because conditions are just too risky for most companies. Goldman seems to agree with DeLong, finding in July that AI was overhyped as a reason for most corporate layoffs. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve isn't completely sold on the revolutionary prospects of AI, arguing that it may be a revolutionary invention like the electric dynamo, but may end up being a one-off boost to productivity, like the light bulb. Gen Z, for its part, seems to be craving more human connection. Starbucks recently announced it would sunset its mobile-only locations, thought to be more appealing to Gen Z and a desire for 'frictionless' experience, in favor of a renewed emphasis on hospitality and human-to-human connection. The generation has been weathering criticism of late that they lack the social skills necessary for success, with the stereotypical 'Gen Z stare' at the center of the conversation. Careers site Glassdoor, for its part, has punctured the myth of 'conscious unbossing' by Gen Zers, finding that they are becoming managers at exactly the same historical rate as any other generation, AI notwithstanding. Ultimately, Khosla's message for the next generation is one of relentless pursuit of learning and adaptability. In a world rapidly being reshaped by AI, the ability to continuously reinvent oneself and embrace new knowledge may be the ultimate differentiator for survival and success. The human capacity to learn new things, after all, is endless. For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Forum discusses key issues related to labour market developments and future skills
Salalah: A forum titled 'Future of Work' kicked off on Monday at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Compound for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah. The two-day event, held as part of the Labour Forum organised by the Directorate General of Labour in Dhofar Governorate, saw a large turnout of experts and specialists from the Sultanate of Oman and GCC states. The forum seeks to promote cross-sectoral dialogue, exchange expertise and successful practices and devise evidence-based future visions to support employment programmes and human capital development in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. It also keeps pace with GCC states' approaches to achieve sustainable economic and social development. The forum's programme included dialogue sessions and workshops focusing on key issues related to labour market developments and future skills. The first session included three working papers on economic developments, future of work prospects and employment policies in a changing world. The second session dealt with economic developments and future skills in GCC states. It included research papers on the governance of the work leadership's system, forecasting skills needed to achieve development goals, policies of education, and the development of skills in a manner that supports the sustainability of labour markets. The forum constituted a strategic dialogue platform that contributes to discussing the future of employment and skills development, enhancing the readiness of labour markets in GCC states to address global challenges and supporting efforts to build sustainable and competitive economies.
