PhD defence Angela Henriëtte Aïchaa Messioui

Keywords: Skills obsolescence, Workplace change, Learning and development, Sickness absence

"Economic skills obsolescence"

Work is constantly changing. As a result of technological and organisational changes, knowledge and skills that employees were previously able to use effectively may become less valuable. This is known as economic skills obsolescence. This dissertation examines how employees experience and respond to economic skills obsolescence and the importance of development opportunities at work. The findings show that perceived economic skills obsolescence is associated with lower work engagement, more burnout symptoms, greater job insecurity and more sickness absence. Sickness absence, in turn, may also be associated with perceived economic skills obsolescence. Development opportunities at work appear to be an important resource. Opportunities to learn new things, make use of talents and pursue ambitions are associated with greater work engagement and less sickness absence. The findings therefore highlight the importance of a work environment in which employees can continue to develop throughout their careers and organisations discuss changes in work, and the knowledge and skills employees need to deal with these changes, with them in a timely manner.

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