The IT revolution has transformed labour markets globally in an unprecedented way. New jobs as well as new ways of working have appeared, and traditional skills and jobs have lost their dominance. Some occupations have vanished entirely. Flexibility has become the new cornerstone, geographical borders and distances have become less important, but technological limitations have emerged as crucial. Using a sociological metaphor, labour market has become a part of liquid modernity. This puts pressures on employees, employers, job-seekers and policymakers to find strategies to navigate this new environment, but at the same time creates new opportunities. Young people are particularly affected by these phenomena – less likely to enter labour market in a stable way as older generations did, but better equipped to cope with ICT, also due to non-formal learning.

The aim of the seminar is to stimulate public debate on the consequences of ICT revolution that has transformed labour market globally in an unprecedented way. New jobs as well as new ways of working have appeared, and traditional skills and jobs have lost their dominance. Some occupations have vanished entirely. Flexibility has become the new cornerstone, geographical borders and distances have become less important, but technological limitations have emerged as crucial. Using a sociological metaphor, labour market has become a part of liquid modernity. This puts a lot of pressure on employees, employers, job-seekers and policymakers to find strategies to navigate this new environment, but at the same time creates new opportunities. Young people are particularly affected by these phenomena – less likely to enter labour market in a stable way as older generations did, but better equipped to cope with ICT, also due to non-formal learning.