ENT 12

Nomadic Lifestyle Agricultural Age Industrial Age Information Age 2

For many years, people moved from place to place in search of food and water. Gradually they learned to gather seeds and plant them in cleared land, resulting in the coming of the … 3

Most people became merchants, craftspeople, farmers, or farm workers Some were entrepreneurs who brought their goods or services directly to their customers Some provided service to the town or village 4

Evolved from the Agricultural Age A period when people began to build equipment they could use to produce standardized goods in large quantities The majority were labourers, employed by the few people who could afford to be business owners Organizations were formed to produce goods and services 5

Most organizations operated under a command and control model—labourers were expected to follow the exact instructions of managers Workers who demonstrated enterprising characteristics were discouraged from being creative Trade unions formed, resulting in better wages and improved working conditions 6

Distinctly different from Agricultural and Industrial Ages because information and knowledge are explicitly valued This age is prime for entrepreneurs and enterprising people who will turn information into practical knowledge that can be applied in new and different ways 7

In the Information Age, intellectual capital has become an important asset to any organization Enterprising employees, called intrapreneurs are people who apply entrepreneurial skills in an organization or business Their abilities give rise to new opportunities as they meet problems, find solutions, and carry their organizations forward with them. In today’s competitive world, businesses need employees who are willing to take initiative, make decisions and be creative. 8

Organizations must watch changes in the marketplace and take note of trends or movements, especially labour market trends The Labour Market is the supply of, and demand for, workers in the economy 9

Supply and demand refers to the number of available workers and the number of current or predicted job openings Job openings occur when there is an increase in market activity or when there is attrition—more people leave their jobs voluntarily due to relocation or retirement than are hired to replace them 10

The economy in the Information Age has prompted an increase in market activity, creating jobs that did not exist 10 years ago It encourages entrepreneurship and has led to an increase in the demand for enterprising employees 11

Entrepreneurs use labour market information to explore opportunities for new ventureslabour market information 12

The new economy is forcing workplaces to change the way they operate if they want to be successful. Factors influencing these changes include 13

Globalization Competition Applications of new technology Concerns for human rights E-commerce The focus on quality The needs of employees Changing customer demands 14

The type of work available to any one individual depends on that person’s skills and knowledge level. Nova Scotia Career Options explores the labour market here at home Nova Scotia Career Options The Conference Board of Canada’s Employability Skills Profile outlines the skills needed in today’s workplaceEmployability Skills Profile 15