AMBROSIA

Topic: The world of work is rapidly changing and employees cannot depend on having
the same work or the same work conditions for life. Discuss the possible causes and
suggest ways to prepare for people to work in the future.

Today’s dynamic world of business – characterized by the gradual obsolescence

of labour and the lessening prospect of permanent employment, has posed great
challenges for job holders worldwide. These trends in labour market can be attributed
to increased globalisation, transnational outsourcing and overwhelming technological
advances. Adaptation to this ever-changing employment landscape requires intensive
individual upskilling and a sound knowledge of economic trends.

Firstly, a nation’s strides towards globalisation inevitably result in fierce foreign

competition that may put domestic low-skilled workers with inadequate occupational
competence at risk of losing their jobs. Furthermor e, the practice of cross-border
outsourcing also threatens the livelihood of the working class in developed countries
due to the mass relocation of jobs to their third-world counterparts, where the cost of
employee welfare is significantly lower. For instance, while the USA witnesses the
diminution of the customer service sector, the unfettered proliferation of call centres
in India provides jobs for thousands of workers.

Secondly, with the blistering pace of technological advancement comes the

conundrum of an increasingly displaced workforce. The automation of repetitive
manual tasks, initiated for the sake of meticulous efficiency and maximum
productivity, has rendered blue-collar workers in the manufacturing sector jobless.
Moreover, such white-collar jobs as bankers and accountants are by no means safe
from the robotic takeover as self-learning AI robots with acute mental discernment are
increasingly adept at complex data analysis. With technology becoming the economic
mainstay of nations, the flourish of tech-related business also means the diminution
of traditional industries, leaving those employed in the latter out of work.

Faced with the looming threat of unemployment and denied of the luxury of job
security, job holders are advised to broaden their s kill set to boost their market
employability. Through the enhancement of widely applicable transferable skills,
recruits may hone social adroitness and professional know-how, thus expanding their
job opportunities across various fields. Furthermore, it is also advisable that
employees keep themselves abreast of economic trends in order to seize opportunities
and overcome hurdles on their career path. Given the capricious nature of the world
of work, precise identification of forthcoming trends based on topical knowledge

Sample Essay AMBROSIA

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allows thorough preparation for possible occupational upheavals as well as novel

ideas for career advancement. For example, having recognized the potential of a
booming digital economy, creators of Uber and Grab successfully established a
billion-dollar ride-hailing industry worldwide.

In conclusion, skill refinement and situational awareness of economic tides are

crucial for overcoming difficulties resulted from the encroachment of globalisation
and technology on the employment landscape. Those who fail to master such skills
may be overwhelmed by the rapid current of changes in the world of work.

VOCABULARY HIGHLIGHTS

• obsolescence [n]: the state of becoming old-fashioned and no longer useful

• counterpart [n]: a person or thing that has the same position or function as
somebody/something else in a different place or situation
• unfettered [n]: not controlled or restricted
• proliferation [n]: the sudden increase in the number or amount of something; a large number
of a particular thing
• blistering [adj]: very rapid
• meticulous [adj]: paying careful attention to every detail
• conundrum [n]: a confusing problem or question that is very difficult to solve
• mainstay [n]: a person or thing that is the most important part of something and enables it to
exist or be successful
• adroitness [n]: the quality of being skilful and clever, especially in dealing with people
• know-how [n]: knowledge of how to do something and experience in doing it
• hurdle [n]: a problem or difficulty that must be solved or dealt with before you can achieve
something
synonym: obstacle
• capricious [adj]: changing suddenly and quickly
• upheaval [n]: a big change that causes a lot of confusion, worry and problems

THEME-RELATED VOCABULARY

• permanent employment
• cross-border/transnational outsourcing: the process of arranging for somebody outside a
company to do work or provide goods for that company
• employment landscape
• low-skilled workers
• occupational competence/ professional know -how

Sample Essay AMBROSIA

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• relocation of jobs
• third-world [adj]: used to refer to the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin
America
• a displaced workforce: eligible workers who have been permanently laid off due to the firm's
failure or plant closure
• employee welfare [n]: services, facilities and benefits that are provided or done by an
employer for the advantage or comfort of an employee
• blue-collar [adj]: connected with people who do physical work in industry
• white-collar [adj]: working in an office, rather than in a factory, etc.; connected with work in
offices
• tech-related business
• traditional industry
• job security [n]: the state of having a job that is secure and from which one is unlikely to be
dismissed
• market employability [n]: the extent to which somebody has the skills, knowledge, attitude,
etc. that make them suitable for paid work
• transferable/portable skills [n]: qualities that can be transferred from one job to another
• career advancement
• digital economy
• ride-hailing industry

Sample Essay AMBROSIA