The challenge of the marketplace: Implications for school counselors

Abstract

The rapid development of new technologies, and the continuing shift of employment away from manufacturing and towards services, are having a profound and irreversible impact on the type of work that today's students will encounter when they enter the job market, and on the skills they will need in order to obtain and succeed in productive employment. It is likely that as computers and robotics become increasingly pervasive production tools the number of manufacturing jobs requiring higher-level skills will be reduced. At the same time, the variety and level of skills needed to design, sell, and service manufactured products probably will increase (CED, 1985). The social and technological developments that have changed so many occupations in recent years--increasing the demand for some, almost eliminating others, and changing the nature of the work in almost all--will also require counseling (Baxter, 1985).. Counselors planning to work in the twenty-first century are confronted with an important role in the delivery of effective career guidance services, if our high school graduates are going to meet the new demands of the marketplace. Despite considerable uncertainty as to the actual impact of technology on future jobs the fact remain that the more rewarding tasks done by people will become nonroutine, placing greater demands on workers to be able to think critically, respond to changes in the environment with reasoned judgements, communicate effectively, and take part in a