Geoff MillenerWhether you believe the robots are coming or not, the fast-paced growth of technology and its effect on industries in Chattanooga will continue to disrupt the workplace in 2019 and beyond.
From the “Dynamo of Dixie” to “Gig City,” Chattanooga is not new to remaking itself in the face of disruption, and local stakeholders have begun preparing for this change that has already crept into some of the city’s age-old industries. From the introduction of new technologies to making sure the future workforce is prepared for jobs that haven’t even been created yet, Chattanooga continues to leverage community resources in ways that other small and mid-sized cities aren’t doing yet, officials say.
“Chattanooga is doing things that other cities will see in 10 to 15 years, ” says Geoff Millener, digital equity officer with the Enterprise Center. “We are that place where what the future looks like is already happening. It’s a place of privilege and responsibility.”
WorkingNation, a national nonprofit dedicated to closing the job skills gap caused by changing technology, reports that for 60 percent of all jobs, at least one third of the activities could be automated. The media content provider also estimates that in just 10 to 15 years, roughly 65 percent of current primary school-age children will work in jobs that don’t exist today.
Through the Enterprise Center, Millener works closely with local schools to connect teachers and students to the state-of-the art technology available in Chattanooga. Through the 4K Microscope program, students at the STEM School of Chattanooga, Red Bank High School and Howard High School can use the power of ultra-high-definition video over Chattanooga’s gigabit internet connection and a $55,000 microscope to stream and view microorganisms – an advanced technology not seen in any other schools nationwide.