The skills of diversity and inclusion are key for the future of work

Diversity will only become more important as Australia transitions to a knowledge-based economy. As labour-intensive tasks are increasingly replaced by?technology, the jobs of the future will be those which rely on creative thinking and problem-solving – uniquely human skills which aren’t easily replaced?by mechanisation.?

A group comprised of people with a variety of skillsets, experiences and perspectives has more potential to think creatively. They are well placed to?stimulate, challenge and provoke one another to develop novel solutions to problems – and solutions which serve a broader audience.

It’s not surprising?then that diverse businesses have stronger financial returns and that employees from marginalised social groups say they are more innovative when?they work in diverse teams.?

To make the most of diverse human capital, there must also be inclusion. Otherwise, social, cultural and emotional barriers mean that valuable ideas are?drowned out, or overlooked.

In 2019, Deloitte Access Economics estimated the economic dividend to Australia from having a more inclusive society to be?$12.7 billion annually. Of that figure, around $5 billion represents a productivity gain from more creative and innovative workplaces, where employees?experience greater inclusion.

The skills to facilitate inclusion – active listening, cultural awareness, recognising our own biases – are critical skills for the?future of work.?

The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded our creativity and adaptation – to find new ways to work, to connect and to communicate with one another. The?World Economic Forum’s 2020 Jobs Reset analysis ranks innovation, active learning and problem solving as three most important skills for the workplace?in 2025.

It’s diverse workforces – and diverse classrooms – that can help Australians to learn and refine those skills.