Shift Workers as Knowledge Workers
As the world of work and industry evolves, shift workers can no longer be contained in the small box they once were. Shift work incorporates all types of jobs and occupations, and management needs to realize how to encourage and support the new breed of shift worker. Way back in 1959, business commentator Peter Drucker, whom a recent Business Week article called “the man who invented management”, coined the term “Knowledge Worker.” He created the idea that many workers traditionally considered blue-collar have a unique ability to learn and process information in their subject area. Extended hours workers are often experts about their jobs in a way no one else is, and managers need to focus on training and supporting night and shift workers so they can make better use of their ability. Until companies realize they need to tap into these gifts of their employees, they will be letting millions of dollars of potential go to waste.
What are Knowledge Workers and How Many are There?
Knowledge Worker is a term that was first coined by Peter Drucker in 1959 in his book Landmarks of Tomorrow. Drucker, who died in 2005, was the author of 39 books and numerous articles focused on business, economics and politics. Drucker cared about the growing impact of people who worked with their minds rather than their hands. He was interested in employees who knew more about some subjects than their bosses or colleagues and yet had to cooperate with others in a large organization to get things done.
The Knowledge Worker includes those in the information technology fields, such as systems analysts, programmers and technical writers as well as academic professionals and researchers. The term also includes people such as nurses, doctors, paramedics, lawyers, teachers and scientists. Since the term Knowledge Worker was coined, there has been consistent industrial growth in North America. This has lead to an increasing need for a more academically capable workforce. Knowledge Workers are now estimated to outnumber all other workers in North America by at least a four to one margin (Haag et al, 2006, pg. 4). This means that about 80% of the workers in North America could be Knowledge Workers.
Shifting Industry Demand for Shift Workers
Shift work used to be thought of as primarily blue collar work performed in heavy industrial environments. But, even though many of these positions have been eliminated due to technology or been shifted overseas, the demand for shift workers has continued to increase steadily.
- More than 20% of US workers now work shift work.
- Almost 15 percent of full-time workers regularly work an alternative shift.
- Shift work cuts across ethnic groups, socioeconomic class, age, and gender lines.
- The top five occupations employing shift workers are cashiers, waiters, and cooks, truck drivers and retail workers.
- The need for shift workers is greatest among workers in service occupations, such as police, firefighters, EMT’s, and paramedics, as well as (50.6 percent), food preparation and service (40.4 percent), and production, transportation, and distribution (26.2 percent).
It might be easy to conclude that if Knowledge Workers make up 80% of the US workers and shift workers make up 20%, that shift workers are not Knowledge Workers. However, this is clearly not the case. Many of the fastest growing occupations require academically capable workers to work shift work. And, the traditional “blue collar” shift work occupations of the past require more academic and technical training than ever before.
Trends in Employment 2004-2014 per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The long-term shift from goods-producing to service-providing employment is expected to continue. Service-providing industries are expected to account for approximately 18.7 million of the 18.9 million new wage and salary jobs generated over the 2004-14 period (13% overall growth).
Other Important Employment Trends
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Within one year, 40% of federal employees will be at retirement age.
- By 2010, as many as 60 percent of today’s experienced utility workers will retire.
- By 2020, the national shortage of nurses is projected to increase to more than 1 million full time equivalent registered nurses; if current trends continue, only 64 percent of projected demand will be met.
- For 20 years, after deregulation in 1980, U.S. railroads mostly cut staff and did little hiring. Now the rail business is growing due to rising U.S. imports and soaring demand for coal from utilities. Railroads have recently hired thousands but now they must teach a new generation to operate the trains.
Trends in Goods Producing Industries Regarding Access to Skilled Workers
There may not be a lot of job growth in the goods producing industries, but there is a lot of retirement coming up shortly. And the outlook for job replacement is mixed. In 2005 a report by the National Association of Manufacturers and Deloitte Consulting warned that a majority of American manufacturers are experiencing shortages of qualified employees. Manufacturing employees in high demand include engineers, scientists, and skilled production employees such as machinists, operators, craft workers, and technicians. Nearly half of manufacturers reported that their employees “lack adequate basic employability skills” and 36 percent complained of insufficient reading, writing, and communication skills.
The Fastest Growing Occupations Create a New View of Knowledge Workers (Facts per the BLS)
These fast growing jobs are creating a new view of Knowledge Workers. An associate or bachelor’s degree is the most significant source of postsecondary education or training for 6 of the 10 fastest growing occupations. Employment options at least requiring a BA degree is expected to grow 21.6% by 2012. Almost all occupations require shift work.
Traditional shift work jobs are not growing, but the baby boomers will be retiring, so there will be jobs in these sectors. Due to technology advances, these jobs are requiring more technical skills than ever. Training is critical to replace the skilled workers that will be lost. Most of the 10 fastest growing occupations are going to require academic credentials and/or certification and most will require workers to work shift work.
The jobs available to US workers require more education and training than ever before. As a result of these two trends, 80% of all US workers are now Knowledge Workers.Each occupation is placed by the BLS into one of 11 categories that best describes the education or training needed by most workers to become fully qualified.
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Tags: 24/7, Productivity, readiness for work, training
