With technology moving so fast, some skills and knowledge will become outdated even faster than we could imagine.

This means that in time to come we will not be able to do our jobs that have already evolved or “moved on” over time.

When we do not constantly re-skill, re-learn, and acquire new or updated skills and experience relevant to our jobs, careers and ourselves, especially within the five-year period, we will quickly become irrelevant for the job that we are currently doing.

We have become outdated and incompetent over a short period of time.

Without any continuous learning and development, it will significantly decrease or weaken our job security.

We will experience significant income volatility and physical and mental stress.

It will also increase the likelihood of other people, robots or machines to take over our jobs; hence the reduction in our job security.

Anticipating and predicting the future is important from a planning point of view.

It is a fact that we don’t plan to fail, but we just fail to plan for ourselves and our families.

Planning will give us a good understanding of our future of work and how we can always remain employable in the future. It will give us an appreciation of the extent to which our current jobs may be transformed, lost, or replaced by technology and other factors that are beyond our control.

So far, the word “job” has been used within the context of employment. It could either be full-time or part-time employment for employees receiving regular salaries and wages.

There are other external factors impacting employees’ job security that we don’t have control over. Identifying these factors will help us future-proof ourselves better.

From various employment statistics, we are seeing that the number of full-time jobs has decreased for most countries while part-time casual jobs have increased significantly.

It has been predicted that by 2027, a majority of U.S. workers will freelance.

World population projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100. Close to 40 million people will enter the labour markets each year.

As such, between 2016 and the year 2030, the world economy needs to create close to 520 million new jobs in order to match the projected increase in the size of the labour force. This will result in an additional 2.7 million (or more) unemployed people.

We also know that there is very little or zero salary or wage growth for many years across many countries and industries.

As such, the future of work will be very different from today.

It will most likely require us to have multiple jobs with more than one employer as part-timers, freelancers, or contractors.

Job security from a multi-job perspective will bring a whole new level of complexity for workers.

Be aware of this. It’s a matter of time when this will be the norm.

The entitlement mentality that goes along with the traditional job employment will no longer be present in the future.

The future of work will be driven by value creation or value contribution mentality.

Freelancers and contractors will only be paid for the value they provide to their employers as an exchange.

They will earn income or receive money through their value creation activities. There’s no longer the entitlement mentality for freelancers and contractors. They must be able and willing to demonstrate the tangible value that they can bring to multiple employers.

Here’s the thing.

When we pay someone to do some work around the house, we expect more in return than what we bargained for. It’s only human nature.

Just think about the last tradesperson you hired and paid to perform a job.

The need to transition from an employee to an independent contractor will be a rude shock or awakening to many workers.

The desperate need to transition could be forced upon many workers when they are made redundant or terminated by their employer, or when they cannot find their next employment and paycheck.

The extent to which an employee can effectively transition from an employee to become an independent contractor will severely impact their job security and income volatility.

If there’s a smooth transition, then there will be continuous job security for that person.

If an employee does not have the required skills and experience to transition effectively to become an independent contractor in the long run, then he or she will not have job security.

It’s going to be a bumpy ride for that employee.

The reality is that not many people will like or are capable of becoming independent contractors or even freelancing while in employment. It’s just not them.

That’s why personality, interest, and aptitude will become so important for anyone wanting to secure their jobs and income in the future.

To future-proof ourselves from any potential transition, workers today should seriously consider doing some freelancing or side business while working in a job or while in employment. This assumes that their contract of employment allows it.

Freelancing will give them the golden opportunity to develop, learn, and acquire new skills and experience that are not related to their current employment.

The evidence suggests that individuals may be using multiple job-holding as a conduit for obtaining new skills and expertise and as a stepping-stone to new careers.

It will also help them make the transition from employment to contracting a little bit easier when it does happen or when it is forced upon them.

The ability, capacity, and aptitude for learning new skills and experience are so vital for future-proofing our jobs.

This will get us to be future-ready and job-ready, thus greatly improving our job security.

No doubt, this will take many years.

Today is no better time to start future-proofing your job, income and yourself. Anticipate the inevitable and make plans to mitigate the potential changes.

So, start early now. Be financially free in the future when you have ‘job security’ through re-skilling, re-learning, and acquiring new or updated skills and experience. Be future-ready and job-ready and constantly provide tangible value to your employers.