Peripheral Euroregions Job Challenges: Administrative Work in Galicia-North Portugal

Abstract

The digital transformation, the pandemic crisis, and, more recently, the war in Europe impact how people communicate, collaborate, and work, with jobs disappearing and others being created, aside from the changes in how tasks are performed. These changes depend on the context and even the sector where people work. One of the professions where they will be more visible is the one regarding administrative tasks (e.g., administrative assistants, filing clerks, payroll clerks, and other roles depending on the technologies), with millions worldwide losing their jobs whether being replaced by the technology, totally or partially, or due to some other circumstances. This reality will impact the competencies needed to remain or be competitive in the job market with implications for education as the role of educational institutions is to prepare citizens for life. This chapter aims to contribute to the reflection on the administrative profession in Portugal and Spain, the two south-western countries in Europe, in the last 10 years. A discussion about the implication of the digital transformation in the referred sector is also incorporated, including the competencies needed in this “new normality” facing the uncertainty and preparing people for decent work, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, according to the Sustainable Development Goals regarding work (8) and education (4).