Changing professions
Our society is constantly changing - and so are our professions," says Eva Holzmann from the Careers Centre of the City of Zurich. Over the past ten years, the professional associations have changed almost all the names of apprenticeships with a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ), explains the careers counsellor. Sometimes the name changes only mean minor adjustments to the job description, sometimes they reflect far-reaching technical, social or legal developments.
One trend that has already seen many professions disappear and new ones emerge is the merging of professions. The training programmes for roofers, flat roof fitters, façade fitters, scaffolding fitters and blind fitters, for example, have merged into those for poly fitters or poly construction practitioners. The professions of electrical and machine mechanic have merged into the profession of polymechanic, and baker-confectioner has merged with confectioner-confectioner to become baker-confectioner-confectioner. Eva Holzmann can imagine that this trend will continue. «It's quite possible,» she says, «that the plasterer apprenticeship will one day merge into an apprenticeship in the main construction trade.»
Turnaround in manual labour?
Not only is the setting of paving stones less in demand than it used to be, other traditional crafts are also gradually disappearing. Apprenticeships in violin making, engraving and shoemaking, for example, are under threat. Only three to four apprentices are still completing these apprenticeships across Switzerland. «However,» adds Holzmann, «the chances of these professions surviving are difficult to assess.»
The vocational, study and career counsellor suspects that some traditional professions will soon experience a counter-trend. Shoemakers in particular are likely to be more in demand again in the future. Whether customised shoes or special shoes, repairs or minor orthopaedic corrections: the need for high-quality manual work is likely to increase again.
Another megatrend that continues is digitalisation. In the nineties, this development gave rise to more than just the profession of computer scientist. Digitalisation has changed almost all job profiles. Since last year, for example, creative professionals have been able to train as interactive media designers. These tech-savvy professionals design websites, apps, social forums, social networks and user interfaces for ticket machines.
New training programmes in sight
The trend towards professionalisation in training is also creating new professions. From system catering specialists and public transport specialists to experts in customer dialogue or specialists in exercise and health promotion: «We can now learn professions in which, until recently, there were no qualifications at basic education level,» explains Holzmann, adding: «These federally recognised apprenticeship qualifications are often in high demand on the labour market."
Holzmann believes that the professions of the future will be in the service sector and ecology, among others. "It's quite possible,» she says, «that young people will be able to train as environmental specialists at some point.» Whatever profession the young people of today or tomorrow decide on, one thing is clear: «Lifelong learning is more than just a buzzword.» Because change remains the constant.
If you want to become a violin maker, you have to be able to play a string instrument.
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