The Future of Work: How to Identify and Prepare for the Jobs of Tomorrow

July 25, 2012 - PRLog -- SAN FRANCISCO – (June 25, 2012) With the presidential election looming, the health of the economy has remained a critical campaign issue as both candidates propose very different ways of revitalizing America’s job market. A new jobs report released this May showed the worst single month for job growth in a year, pushing the U.S. unemployment rate up to 8.2 percent, creating only half the number of jobs projected. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California’s unemployment rate as of May, 2012 was even higher, at 10.8%. A new report showed the rate of unemployment in the 17-member Eurozone had risen to 11% in April as manufacturing slowed in Britain, Germany and France. All this has driven the unemployment rate up for the first time in 11 months as more people are looking for jobs but failing to find them.

To what degree is the slowing growth in China and Europe really dragging down America’s job market? Why aren’t American companies hiring more employees at a faster pace? Are they worried about rising taxes, regulation, a new Presidency, automatic spending cuts? To what degree are companies afraid to hire new employees? What’s hurting us most—lack of business confidence? Lack of consumer confidence? What about the more than 5 million people who have become the long term unemployed, whose extended unemployment benefits are quickly running out? Experts say that although the number has decreased from this time last year, these rates do not even reflect those who have given up looking for work altogether.

Considering the gravity of this issue, The Commonwealth Club has elected to explore how the situation has risen to crisis proportions, examine the future of work, and investigate how to identify and prepare for the jobs of tomorrow for this year’s timely August series. This year’s programs will address the gamut of issues facing those looking for jobs as well as provide tips on how to keep them.

Chair of the “Future of Work Program” Dr. Carol Fleming, who spearheads the series, commented, “It has always been the case that there have been too many people for very few jobs here in the San Francisco Bay Area. But since the economic downturn late 2007, and subsequent downsizing and consolidating of positions, we have seen even more individuals lose their jobs. It is tragic that so many qualified individuals have lost their livelihoods in fields that seem to be disappearing. It is even more devastating that there seem to be very few industries creating opportunities. It is not only demoralizing for those who have been skilled and educated, many even with Ph.Ds. but for those who are just out of college, struggling to pay off student loans and put their new degrees to good use. This is why we are focusing on jobs of the future in fields like technology and health care. We will also look at how the older, more seasoned employee can retool his or her skills to remain competitive in our more technological world.”

Nationally renowned Career Counselor and Host of "Work with Marty Nemko," on KALW radio, Marty Nemko will headline a series of discussions on work, starting with “What Every Career Minded Person Should Know for 2013 and Beyond.” The Former Columnist for the SF Chronicle's Career Column, named "The Bay Area's Best Career Coach" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and "Job Coach Extraordinaire" by U.S. News will reveal some rewarding but little-known gems about the art of job hunting. He'll share what is working best for his clients in their endeavors and talk about a new strategy called “onramping.” Finally, he'll present his favorite low-risk/high-payoff/high-ethics small businesses one can start on one’s own. The first of Nemko’s sessions will take place Wednesday, August 1, at 5:15 p.m. at the Club Office at 595 Market St., 2nd Floor.

The series will be launched by speaker Meg Jordan Ph.D., RN, CWP, Professor and Chair of Integrative Health Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies and CEO of Global Medicine Enterprise who will discuss the new roles for growing demands in the medical profession. She will explain the up-and-coming vocation health coaching, and how it differs from traditional health education. She also will tell us how many traditional health care workers have begun to see an overwhelming need for supportive and supplementary allies to facilitate today’s medical experience. She will examine how health coaches can offer the latest motivational science and share the art of adopting healthy behaviors, as chronic disease burgeons and patient-physician face-time shrinks. Her session will provide four big ideas from research in neuroscience, addiction, social ranking and creativity that are moving the new field of health coaching from the margins of the medical landscape to a central role. Dr. Jordan educates masters-level integrative wellness coaches at CIIS and serves as a board member, establishing educational benchmarks for their training and eventual national certification.

The series, comprised of speakers programs, panel discussions and workshops, will be open to the public. Most programs will be held at The Club offices located at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor in San Francisco, unless otherwise noted. Please find a detailed list of scheduled events below.

Generous grants from our SILVER sponsors Wells Fargo Bank and Ernst & Young have made it possible for the Commonwealth Club to offer many on-site talks and panels FREE FOR MEMBERS and at a reduced cost for non-members.

Founded in 1903, The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation’s premier non-profit public affairs forum, with more than 18,000 members. Based in San Francisco, The Club hosts speeches, debates and discussions on issues of regional, national and international significance. At least half a million people hear The Commonwealth Club’s weekly radio broadcasts on more than 150 public and commercial radio stations across the country. The Club also broadcasts on XM Satellite Radio, and recently began pod casting its programs. A selection of The Club’s programs is now also televised on Comcast Premium Digital Cable. For the past century, The Club has fostered free speech and civic dialogue on wide-ranging topics, addressing key issues in society, culture, politics, the economy and more. For more information, visit www.commonwealthclub.org.