ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the New American Jobs Summit brought together policymakers, industry leaders and key influencers to examine the future of jobs in the United States. The summit was held yesterday at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and explored how government and the private sector can collaborate to develop a competitive workforce, create new jobs and foster economic growth in the face of rapid technological innovation, an aging population and increased global competition.
The morning kicked off as Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA, addressed the audience. “Our overall goal is innovation, and that innovation is what separates us from other countries,” said Shapiro. “Together, we’re shaping the new American workforce.”
Shortly after, Steve Koenig, senior director of market research, CTA, released results from CTA’s Future of Work Survey. Koenig explored the future of job skill requirements, job automation and hiring practices. “Fifty-two percent of tech industry executives plan to automate job functions in the next five years,” Koenig explained. “It’s getting easier, it’s getting better.”
Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Jared Polis (D-CO) then took the stage to offer their perspectives on jobs. Rep. Foxx – an Airbnb host in her home state of North Carolina – explained how the new Congress and administration give America the opportunity to create policies that close the widening skills gap. Rep. Polis highlighted the need for early education and community colleges to narrow the skills gap. In addition to growing our own best and brightest, Polis called for fixing our broken immigration system so the U.S. can also import the best and brightest.
The Jobs Report followed, as CTA's Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac and Monster Government Solutions Director of Research Bruce Stephen highlighted where we stand now with jobs and where we are heading in the future. DuBravac explained how future jobs will be a collaborative effort between humans and machines. According to Monster's 2016 research, the tech sector has low unemployment and solid expansion. “This doesn't mean everyone needs to be a programmer, but you will need to be able to work in an environment increasingly infused with technology,” said Stephen.
Glenn DuBois, Chancellor, Virginia’s Community Colleges, took the stage next to discuss the most difficult jobs to fill in Virginia, and how the present and future are cyber-focused. “If you can fix something, there’s a middle class job out there for you,” DuBois stated. He spoke about how employers love the credentials that community colleges are offering because they are affordable, obtained in months not years and are “stackable.”
The first panel of the day featured Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer, U.S. News and World Report, who moderated a conversation on connecting education with what companies are looking for. Ty Ahmad-Taylor, CEO, THX Ltd.; Jon Chapman, co-founder and president, national partnerships, EverFi; Linda Livingstone, Ph.D., dean and professor of management, George Washington University School of Business; and Roy Skillicorn, senior director, Cisco Services Academy discussed topics including the importance of balancing science and math education with communications and softer skill sets, and the business case around company education and training to improve productivity.
Airbnb’s head of global policy and public affairs, Chris Lehane, addressed the crowd about platforms and economic empowerment. As more Americans become freelancers, Airbnb is proving to be a platform that is economically empowering its top three users: millennials, women and urban families. Lehane explained how Airbnb’s model of maximizing underutilized assets such as homes is helping to fill the economic gap at a time when wages and salaries are stagnant. In 2016, the platform supported 134,000 U.S. main street jobs.
Four influential members of Congress then took the stage to offer their perspectives on the future of work. A co-founder of the Sharing Economy Caucus, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) said the sharing economy is about efficiency and creatively destroying jobs while creating new opportunities far beyond what society can predict. A decade ago, our country wasn’t talking about the sharing economy or social media platforms, and Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) reflected that since then America has started to think about lifetime learning. Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY), the father of two boys, shared his personal story of how enrolling his children in coding classes strengthened his belief that the United States needs to provide young people educational opportunities. One of CTA’s 2017 Digital Patriot honorees, Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) stressed the importance of creating the right framework that provides consumers strong privacy and security options.
The summit continued with captivating afternoon sessions and also offered another opportunity for members of Congress to offer their perspectives. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) spoke about how America’s workforce, especially in Middle America, fear the inevitability of automation will make their job obsolete. Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who began her own career as a software programmer, explained the country’s need for STEM education, especially for women and minorities.
Michael Petricone, senior vice president, government and regulatory affairs, CTA, moderated a panel that explored how disruptive technology creates local jobs. From 3D printing to artificial intelligence, emerging technology is allowing smaller tech startups to succeed and differentiate themselves from major companies, according to the panel of entrepreneurs and tech experts.
Gary Shapiro returned to the stage to lead a panel that focused on innovation and immigration. Phone2Action President and Co-Founder Ximena Hartsock and Benjilock CEO Robbie Cabral, who are both immigrants, explained how immigrants are essential to ensuring that small tech businesses such as theirs can fill highly-skilled positions.
Michael Hayes, senior manager of government affairs, CTA, continued with a panel that analyzed workers’ skills. Panelists agreed that as the business world changes, so must the workers. “Technology is essential to offering that change, such as using iPads to train workers at Walmart,” said Walmart Federal Government Relations Director Micaela Fernandez Allen.
Jamie Boone, senior director, government affairs, CTA, led a conversation about how private sector programs could transform the job market. Robert Chiapetta, director, government affairs, Toyota Motor North American Inc., and Qualcomm’s VP of Government Affairs Alice Tornquist pointed to wide-reaching partnerships between the private and public sectors.
The summit concluded with an insightful fireside chat between Gary Shapiro and Revolution LLC Chairman and CEO Steve Case. “We’re in the third wave of the internet,” Steve Case explained, as he championed the importance of creativity, curiosity and collaboration for future entrepreneurs and internet-savvy businesspeople. Case highlighted healthcare and education as future disruptive markets he expects will be greatly changed by technology.
Visit CTA.tech to watch video highlights from the summit and view the full agenda.
About Consumer Technology Association:
Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM is the trade association representing the $292 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies – 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world’s best known brands – enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES® – the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA’s industry services.
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