WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE WORKER?

Knowledge workers are at the cutting edge of this third wave. Theri jobs are designed around the acquisition and application of information. Organisationsa need people who can fill these jobs-- the demand for them is great. And because the supply of information technologists is low, those in the field are paid a premium for their services. Meanwhile, the number of blue-collar workers has shrunk dramatically. Unfortunately, some of the blue-collar workers don't have the education and flexibility necessary to exploit the new job opportunities in the information revolution. They don't have the specific skills to move easily into high paying technologists' jobs. This situation contrasts with the shift from the first wave to the second. The transition from the farm to factory floor required little addtional skill-- often just a strong back and a willingness to learn, follow directions and work hard.