Change of Competences in the Context of Industry 4.0 Implementation

Abstract

Industry 4.0 will not only change what we are and what we do, but also who we are. As a result of the rapid introduction of new technologies, which is characteristic for Industry 4.0, there will be a change in the labour market. It allows people, things and machines to be connected in real time, thus ensuring that the necessary information is exchanged between them. There are advantages, but also negatives: one of the impacts of Industry 4.0 is the gradual transformation of the labour market, leading to a demand for new professional skills and the digitalisation of work. Thus, it brings with it the need for employees to adapt to the changing sub-conditions of the labour market. The aim of this article is to identify and highlight the need for changes in the field of competences in connection with the application of Industry 4.0 methods and techniques. For the purpose of this research, a valid data collection instrument (questionnaire for the research) was developed and distributed to enterprises in the field of selected industry sectors in the Slovak Republic. In total, the research sample consisted of n = 556 respondents. On the basis of the obtained results, we conclude that early identification of future needs in terms of competences gives the possibility of setting up training activities aimed at acquiring new, missing and needed-for-the-future competences of employees.