Get the latest insights, events and more:Welcome to the December issue of Voices, a collection of insights on the workforce of the future. Spending shortfalls—projected to total some $5.5 trillion worldwide when compared with the level needed to maintain current GDP growth—are already straining global infrastructure. But another threat looms as well. Infrastructure faces a labor shortage due to retirement, a working-age population with different workforce preferences, and increasing degrees of automation that leave workers worried about the sustainability of their jobs.
Modern infrastructure and capital projects demand new skill sets in every phase, by every actor involved. To develop the workforce of the future, leaders must sharpen their focus on culture, organizational structures, and the incentives required to attract and retain top-tier talent.
Ushering in the workforce of the future will require the integration of new talent and the retraining of existing talent, with fresh perspectives from a diverse workforce becoming much more critical for success. Both public- and private-sector leaders will need to create detailed plans focused on managing talent—enhancing capacities and skills while also advancing cultures of safety, innovation, and inclusion.
This issue emphasizes the essential qualities of the future workforce, as well as the leadership required to steer this transformation. We hope you find these outlooks insightful and welcome your thoughts on the topic.
Antonio De Gregorio
Partner, Madrid
McKinsey & Company
Giulia Siccardo
Associate partner, San Francisco
McKinsey & Company
