Ohio University Zanesville and the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce are bringing business leaders and educators together next Friday to ignite dialogue about the changing workforce and needs of employers during “The Future of Work and Education Summit.”

From 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., those who register are invited to engage in that conversation at the OUZ/Zane State College Campus Center.

“Over the past few years, a national conversation about how automation, internationalization, and generational demographics will reshape both the kinds of jobs that will exist over the next two decades as well as the way in which work is performed has become increasingly pervasive. Experts predict that almost every job will be touched to some degree by automation and that nearly half of all jobs will soon be performed by computers rather than people,” said Dr. Jeremy Webster, Dean of Ohio University Zanesville. “Success in the workplace increasingly requires complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, collaboration, emotional intelligence, decision making, service orientation, negotiation, and cognitive flexibility.”

During the summit, participants will be introduced to international and regional experts in recruiting and managing the emerging workforce. 

The featured speaker will be Dr. David Delong, who teaches solutions to critical skill shortages caused by a changing workforce demographic, generational values and new technologies. 

Other presenters include State Representative Adam Holmes, Bill Stewart of Stewart Glapat, and representatives from Ohio University Zanesville, Muskingum University and Zane State College. 

The event is free and open to the public, although registration is required. Registration can be completed at http://bit.ly/futureofworkanded. Additional Summits will be held throughout the year. 

Registration ends Friday, Sept. 20, according to the Chamber.