How the global conflict crisis shapes employment opportunities and the skills needed to survive

Have you ever considered how far-flung costs and political upheavals occurring outside our borders infiltrate the very core of our everyday lives?

Besides affecting our economy, what about the work opportunities for the average citizen? How are such global conflicts affecting us? It is often hard not to view these global conflicts as some remote threat, but they silently carve out the landscape over which our goals, professions, and livelihoods are constructed and developed. Or, can the fears arising through all these distant thunder clouds lead us to enter into new arenas of opportunity and development, even in the stability of our backyards?

Nobody would disagree with the fact that minimal advancement often falls to those who are too conservative and resistant to change. It, instead, rewards those who are open to change and join to learn how to dance on varying terrains. Interestingly, periods characterised by general unrest are secret driving forces, facilitating technological growth, industrial entrepreneurship, and innovation in otherwise unchangeable fields. 

Ripple Effects: Local breadwinners and global battles

Wars in distant territories cause ripples that extend far beyond their limits, influencing the reliability of supply chains, international trade, and foreign investments.

Our industries are either directly or indirectly affected by these tremors, whether through large manufacturing companies or small, family-owned enterprises. Have you noticed how some industries in our own country are making changes? The shortages of raw materials that are imported have paralysed some manufacturing units. Some, however, have dared to go local and produce alternatives. In farm belts, the interruption of foreign-sourced fertilisers, farm equipment, and seeds stresses farmers to adopt ingenious cropping practices or find local solutions.

Interestingly, the chaos has also sparked interest in defence sectors and cybersecurity. The ever-changing variants of conflict areas worldwide enhance the development of those who work in spheres, ensuring the safety of not only physical infrastructures but also digital networks, which constitute the foundation of modern businesses and governmental mechanisms. Did you pay attention to the increase in the number of careers going in the direction of data security and system resilience? The need for care has also grown, as the number of displaced and crisis demands increases around the world, providing employment opportunities to medical staff, logisticians, and community developers here.

International disturbances constantly bombard the classic arteries of supply chains, which has led to questioning transportation networks, warehousing and distribution strategies. Practitioners who are skilled in dealing with these evolving puzzles prove to be priceless because they sustain the necessities of society daily. In the context of globalisation, the world may increasingly request the services of peacekeepers, conflict mediators, and diplomatic experts, highlighting the closeness of the global and local worlds once again. What about the possibility that a war half a world away could alter the values of employers at home?

What is important now? The skills shift

In the current job market, employers are no longer seeking the same old rigid specialist. They are instead looking for adaptable thinkers who possess emotional intelligence, creativity, and the ability to think critically. Proficient technological knowledge, including the ability to code, perform data analysis, and implement cybersecurity procedures that safeguard against common cyber threats, is increasingly in demand. 

Meanwhile, long-term farming practices that can mitigate the shock of supply chain disruptions present more food security and reduced dependence on unstable global markets. Communication ability, especially in conflict resolution, multilingualism, and diplomacy, is the lifelines that cross opposing moments; communities can progress peacefully through conflict, even though the odds may not be in their favour.

Knowledge of logistics and financial literacy, including crisis planning, adaptability and the ability to manage scarce resources wisely, is crucial in maintaining the availability of essential goods. Resilience and critical thinking enable one to handle unexpected changes and keep one's focus. Last but not least, healthcare professionalism, specifically, emergency preparedness and elementary medical assistance, is the key to stabilising the situation when other services may be temporarily interrupted. 

Where can the desire to succeed be concentrated?

As the world is transformed by conflict, does it also transform the hopeful aspects of life? History would tell us otherwise. The most difficult challenges are usually the ones that lead to the most significant breakthroughs. The spirit of persistence is already reflected in our country, with the farmers trying new types of crops better able to deal with climate change even when inputs are scarce, with the innovators finding ways to bridge villages together with low-cost technology when infrastructure is unreliable, with the entrepreneurs starting their enterprises to make up imports that are becoming less reliable because of conflicts halfway across the world.

What would happen if we scaled those up? More local manufacturers processing value-added goods to provide employment and keep money in the local economy; school teachers focusing on capabilities that are important on both an individual and national scale, such as digital and emotional skills; community organisations building social resources and strength. 

Uniting upwards in a rising force

And today, at the crossroads of history, should we allow the fear and uncertainty to become the guidelines of our way, or should we embrace the change as the call to the progress of the whole of humanity together? Authentic optimism exists because of taking action to get well-prepared, continually growing in expertise, and fostering unity. The unbreakable nature of our people, their creativity, and togetherness are the resources that external forces of crisis can never diminish.

Although the mechanics of work can be rearranged amid the chaos on the outside, the internal will to innovate and change ensures that nobody is left unprotected. Indeed, by working together and maintaining our spirit, we can all contribute to creating a strong and prosperous future. United, nobody is left behind, and in a world in flux, we find within ourselves a source of opportunity, innovation and hope. We are all on our way to experience change, and we are not just trying to survive through it; we are thriving through change by embracing it in its entirety.

Samiha Mamun is an undergraduate student at Army IBA (affiliated with the Bangladesh University of Professionals), Savar, Dhaka. She can be reached at samihamamunmeem@gmail.com