Hiring Practices on the Cusp of Change in a Future World of Work

As keynote speaker at the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Future World of Work Summit and Strategy Director of Lumina Foundation, I am looking forward to highlighting the work of the future at the inaugural event at the FFA Enrichment Center at Des Moines Area Community College. The Summit, which takes place from Noon until 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, will also feature programming such as a panel discussion and interactive session.

The Human Element of Work

How do we help people find education and training that allows them to be their best selves, and how do we think about job creation in a way that maximizes what human beings bring to the table? The Summit is the perfect opportunity to discuss this topic as we have come out of the biggest labor market disruption any of us can remember. I will touch on how we’re hearing a lot more about how people are reprioritizing the ways in which they think about work. It used to be that employees worked in an office five days a week. Now, employers must think about whether they’re meeting workers where they are.

Education Versus Training

While a worker may not need a four-year degree to get a job, we all need to look more at the specific skills and competencies people need and how we reward institutions that are good at creating avenues of learning for potential workers. Essentially, how do we create the right pathways to work?

The Lumina Foundation is interested in making sure we rethink what economic mobility looks like. Going back to normal will not be good for many types of workers, so employers will need to consider how exactly we move forward to benefit more workers in the future. Building equitable pathways through local and regional chambers and their resources is one way Lumina Foundation is advocating.

During the Summit, I plan to discuss digital literacy training in more depth and how education and training should not be separated out as two different pathways. Traditional training focuses on hard skills, but the more human aspects of a job — working as a team, making hard choices and showing empathy still come into play. How do you empower people to learn these aspects of a job/career? On the other hand, using a degree as a proxy for an individual’s knowledge and skills may not be the whole story. It may not accurately reflect what you can do and serve as a barrier of entry for people who have the skills, but not the degree.

Hiring practices are on the cusp of change. What does that mean for employers and HR managers? In terms of trends in Iowa, I will highlight Lumina Foundation’s Stronger Nation degree or certification attainment goals and how inclusive hiring practices will allow Iowa to meet its goals for educational attainment. Learn more about how Iowa compares to the U.S. when it comes to degree attainment here.

Register for the Future World of Work Summit and take part in conversations about ways in which we can all innovate and thrive in the work and learning ecosystems of the future. The 2022 Future World of Work Summit is sponsored by Iowa Workforce Development, Jacobson Institute at Grand View University, MercyOne and Des Moines Area Community College.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses or events specific to Downtown DSM.