Knowledge Infusion had the opportunity to take part in many activities at Oracle OpenWorld 2007 this year including a panel that I was on today moderated by Row Henson. I have to commend Oracle on a conference well done and the panel that I was part of on the future of the workforce got some great reviews from the audience.
As Josh Bersin from Bersin & Associates and Lisa Rowen from IDC and myself spoke, many questions came up around the workforce, how education is effecting kids entering the workforce these days and how technology might play a role.
A few highlights:
Josh Bersin made some great comments surrounding recruiting techniques organizations are using around hiring family members; parents bringing their kids to work and visa versa
Lisa Rowen reminded us that the first Baby Boomer turned 62 this year and chose to collect Social Security - hmm.. I thought the workforce was working longer? What are you doing to keep them?
I talked about one of the Knowledge Infusion initiatives next year around the formulation of a foundation to help high school students understand the value that technology and specifically the impact that by understanding the world of business while in high school they can be prepared 1000x better to enter the workforce. Stay tuned for much more about this Knowledge Infusion foundation in 2008.
The conversation was great and I appreciate Oracle inviting Knowledge Infusion to participate and thank my fellow panelists for a great event.
I had the opportunity to take my son to his first movie last week, The Bee Movie. The whole panel reminded me of this video clip and thought I would share it. Has anyone in your life had the same job their whole life? Is it still possible? Let me know.
Another infusion of knowledge...
Well, this will certainly show my age, but there is only one person left alive in my life who had the same job for her entire life. She is now 89 and worked as a third grade school teacher ? same school, same class for over 40 years! Could you imagine?
Neither of my parents worked the same job for their entire life, and the thought of any of my contemporaries doing so is laughable. We change jobs like light bulbs (no burn-out pun intended) and change careers like long
distance carriers.
The only way to spend your whole life in the same job today would be to have a shortened life on the job. Now, here is some irony? the most dangerous job, according to a government report published by CNN, is FISHERMAN! 141.7 deaths per 100,000 workers. Followed by:
? Pilots (87.8)
? Loggers (82.3)
? Structural Iron/Steel Workers (61.0)
? Refuse Collector (41.8)
? Farmers & Ranchers (37.1)
? Power Linemen (34.9)
? Roofers (33.9)
? Drivers (27.1)
? Agricultural Workers (21.7)
Texas had the highest number of fatalities per state - 486. California recorded 448 and Florida 355.
Whew! No product evangelists, industry analysts or HR professional on the list ? we might just have a chance.