Exploring skill requirements for the Industry 4.0: A worker-oriented approach

Emerging technologies are shaping the world of work, thus creating an increasingly digital industry, also known as "Industry 4.0". Thus, examining skill requirements becomes essential to facilitate organizational adaptation to this technological revolution. The aim of this study was to explore the perception of skill requirements of workers of a highly technological manufacturing company. In Study 1 (n = 671), an exploratory factor analysis was carried out to identify relevant groups of skills. A year later, in Study 2 (n = 176), we confirmed the factor structure through a confirmatory factor analysis and we conducted a latent growth curve analysis to examine potential changes of the previous skill requirements due to the lockdown and the forced remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings showed that cognitive, functional business, strategic and managing people skills are considered as important resources for the industry 4.0, being the functional business skills increasingly relevant in time 2. Moreover, we identified differences between managers and subordinates regarding such skills. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for skills development in the digital age. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Tecnologias emergentes estan dando forma al mundo del trabajo, creando asi una industria cada vez mas digital, tambien conocida como "Industria 4.0". Por tanto, examinar el requirimiento de habilidades se vuelve esencial para facilitar la adaptacion organizacional a esta revolucion tecnologica. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la percepcion de las habilidades requeridas por los trabajadores de una empresa manufacturera altamente tecnologica. En el Estudio 1 (n = 671), se realizo un analisis factorial exploratorio para identificar grupos relevantes de habilidades. Un ano despues, en el Estudio 2 (n = 176), confirmamos la estructural factorial a traves de un analisis factorial confirmatorio y realizamos un analisis de curva de crecimiento latente para examinar posibles cambios en las habilidades requeridas debido al confinamiento y el trabajo remoto forzado durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Los resultados mostraron que las habilidades cognitivas, funcionales del negocio, estrategicas y de gestion de personas se consideran recursos importantes para la industria 4.0, siendo las habilidades funcionales del negocio mas relevantes en el tiempo 2. Ademas, identificamos diferencias entre gerentes y subordinados con respecto a tales habilidades. Discutimos las implicaciones teoricas y practicas para el desarrollo de habilidades en la era digital. (Spanish) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Anales de Psicologia is the property of Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)