4IR News

Technology develops faster than ever these days. As it develops in new and unexpected ways, we're left to wonder the implications of what it can mean for our everyday lives and how it will change them.

Some have argued that the technological advancements of today place society in an industrial revolution, the fourth since the late 18th century. What would separate this fourth industrial revolution, though, is the direct relation it has to the preceding one - the "digital revolution" - before it.

So, what is this fourth industrial revolution? What technology is a part of it and what is its impact?

Fourth Industrial Revolution

The First Industrial Revolution is famous for industrializing agricultural work with advances like the cotton gin and steam engine. The Second Industrial Revolution, in the late 19th and early 20th century, brought iron and steel into industry. The Third Industrial Revolution, the Digital Revolution, is the age of the computer and the internet.

That is an age we still live in, but a supposed Fourth Industrial Revolution seeks to develop digital technology further. It takes the digitization of our society and seeks to explore new uses for it while still advancing the technology. From smart technology to cyber-physical systems, this age of technology seems to be more about pushing the limits of what digital technology can do throughout any possible field.

This is another thing it shares with the Digital Revolution; while the First Industrial Revolution was primarily for agriculture, both the Third and Fourth Industrial Revolutions are marked by technological advancements that can affect all industries in astonishing ways.

Who Coined the Term?

Certainly it wasn't difficult to call it the Fourth Industrial Revolution, considering there were three before it. So who decided that we had officially entered this new era?

The person who coined it in its most relevant sense was Professor Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, using it as the title of a 2016 book. Due to the high-tech nature of this age, it has also been referred to as Industry 4.0, or I4.0.

The Technology of the Revolution

We're being told we're entering a Fourth Industrial Revolution, but the technology we use the most - our computers, our phones, our video game consoles - are part of the Digital Revolution. What burgeoning technology of Industry 4.0 is on the horizon, and what is already here?

Some of the more fascinating advancements that have already begun are virtual reality and artificial intelligence, or VR and AI. In addition to the VR technology now available in video games, most notable with Oculus Go, it is now available for live television. BBC made it possible to watch the 2018 World Cup via virtual reality.

A VR headset wasn't a necessary purchase, as it worked through smartphones and tablets as well.AI, meanwhile, has gone from a crazy futuristic thing in movies to something that autocompletes sentences and responds when you ask for Siri on your smartphone. It has been casually integrated into your everyday technology, and will be integral to  self-driving cars, a technological advancement that people have anticipated for years.

It's an interesting quirk to contemporary society that AI went from something many feared to something that corporations gave a cute human name to so you'd feel comfortable asking it to help you shop.


In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we've applied the internet to our outside lives. Order a package from Amazon (AMZN - Get Report) or a pizza from Domino's? (DPZ - Get Report) Now you can stare at your computer or phone and track it from start to finish.

The rapid advancements of technology's capabilities are affecting our warehouses, farms and hospitals as robotics gets more and more impressive. It has, though, led to ethical questions about automation.

Potential Impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

This industrial revolution brings potential for incredible change worldwide - both good and bad.

In many ways, these advances can bring incredible innovations. Information is more convenient to find, and new strides are being made in productivity and efficiency in a number of industries. Communication is faster and more readily available around the world.

Some have high hopes of using the technology from this era to improve the world in ways like limiting carbon emissions. There are lots of ways to look at the way technology is advancing and teeming with potential to better our earth.

However, we would be wearing some awfully rose-tinted glasses by saying that is all it can do. There is tremendous risk in all of this. There is fear that continued automation in so many industries could lead to millions finding themselves out of work. This is also arguably true about aspects of Industry 4.0 that "disrupt" other industries, which can lead to less consistent work and lower wages.

With all the data used to enhance and personalize AI, we have also become a far less private society. This data can include personal information, and data breaches in large companies are more common than anyone would prefer.Bioengineering and biotechnology are impressive on a scientific level, but how are they being used?

Biotechnology can be of great use in improving prosthetic limbs, but the potential for genetic modification brings up an ethical dilemma. Bioengineering and robotics can cause great strides in the medical field among other industries, but they can also be used to destructive ends as well.

This is the confusing and fascinating element of being in the beginning of a new technological revolution. So much is evolving so fast, and so many people have different intended uses for these innovations. In his book, Schwab calls on everyone, those in charge of these new technologies in particular, to think critically about the ends to which they can be used, and how they can benefit the people.

Certain skills will be required to succeed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Here are four recommendations to help bridge the youth skills gap.by Jamira Burley


The rapid march of emerging technologies has ushered in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and along with it concern from many in business, government and academia about the impact on today’s workers, not to mention the workforce of the future.

By 2030, an estimated 1.8 billion youth worldwide will not have the skills or qualifications required to participate in the workforce, according to predictions in a new report by Deloitte Global and the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education).

“Business has to play a leading role by not only defining and communicating what skills are needed in the future, but also by working side by side with educators, governments and nonprofits to ensure our future employees are receiving the education necessary to compete and succeed,” said Deloitte Global Chairman David Cruickshank.

Four Skills Essential for Success



Titled “Preparing tomorrow’s workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” the new report found that four skills emerge when looking at what will be required for individuals to succeed in 4IR:

• Workforce readiness: Basic skills such as time management, personal presentation and attendance are critical.
• Soft skills: As humans increasingly work alongside robots, uniquely human skills, such as creativity, complex problem solving, emotional intelligence and critical thinking, will be irreplaceable by machines.
• Technical skills: New employment opportunities are being created through technology. Jobs that are currently going unfilled often require industry-specific technical skills and targeted training.
• Entrepreneurship: As the gig economy grows, youths’ ability to be innovative, creative and take initiative to launch new ventures will be critical.

Financial investment alone will not employ 1.8 billion youth. Instead, new system-wide approaches are needed.

Businesses currently make trade-offs between scale and impact, but this research suggests ways to achieve both. It is critical to overcome the challenges of reaching the most marginalized youth, including women and girls who in many parts of the world already face significantly higher rates of unemployment.

Four Recommendations to Bridge the Skills GapWithin this landscape, following are four key recommendations to address the youth skills gap.

First, align stakeholders’ objectives and approaches. In order to achieve scalable results, businesses need to work with the broader ecosystem, implementing an integrated approach that leverages each group’s strengths and capabilities for impact.

This includes coordinating opportunities, identifying gaps in training, finding opportunities for co-investment and sharing information about future talent needs.

Second, engage in public policy. Business has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to help governments prepare policies, rules and regulations that will benefit youth and strengthen our future workforce.

Dialogue, advocacy, collaboration and influencing government are key means to drive results.Third, develop strong talent strategies. Reviewing and adapting current talent strategies will be important to future success, and developing best practices that promote inclusivity and innovation will be critical.

Last, invest in workforce skilling. Employee training can no longer be a “check the box” activity, and businesses need to evaluate, invest and promote workforce training programs strategically so future talent needs and requirements can be met.

GBC-Education will take the recommendations forward through its Youth Skills and Innovation Initiativeby establishing an Action Hub, which will share information about programs that are working in the hopes that they can be scaled or easily duplicated.

At the heart of the issue is quality education and training, but there is now a framework for how to address the youth skills gap. Equally important, there’s a broad commitment across stakeholder groups and unlikely allies, led in large part by youth themselves, to bridge that gap.




Jamira Burley is the head of Youth Engagement and Skills for the Global Business Coalition for Education. She is a White House Champion of Change and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. To comment, email [email protected].