The workplace is changing. Technology and globalization have had a big impact on how the workspace is transforming. It’s no surprise that new jobs, approaches to work, and work-life balance issues are all beginning to take shape. If you want to be prepared for the future of work, you’ll need to stay on top of the latest trends and be ready for the shifts that are taking place. In this article, we’ll discuss what you can expect in terms of the future of work and what you can do to make sure you’re prepared.
1. What Is the Future of Work?
The Future of Work is a much-discussed topic, and the landscape is ever-changing. Despite what many may think, the Future of Work is not solely about advancements in technology, it’s about how the workplace will evolve to accommodate advances in culture, lifestyle and tools. Here’s what we can expect:
- Increased automation: Automation has already begun to revolutionize how we work. It has opened up opportunities to streamline repetitive tasks, freeing up employees and companies to focus on more creative endeavours.
- Improved remote working: Due to the pandemic, remote working has seen an unprecedented influx of employees, with many companies choosing to adopt it permanently. This has redefined the employee experience and allowed for more flexible working arrangements and increased employee motivation and morale.
- Flexible working hours: Work-life balance is becoming increasingly important, and is being reflected in trend of flexible working hours. This means employees can adapt their hours to suit their lifestyle, which has the potential to improve productivity and quality of life.
- Virtual teams: Virtual teams are becoming more prevalent due to the increased use of technology and tools. This allows teams to be more connected, and can help to keep communication, collaboration and morale at an all-time high.
The Future of Work will see the workplace become an ever-evolving environment. Companies will have to adjust to the changing needs of their workforce and embrace technological advances in order to remain competitive.
2. What Industries Will Be Most Affected?
As technology and automation evolve, certain industries will be more affected than others – some more quickly than others. Here are a few that are likely to face the most disruptions:
- Manufacturing: Manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly automated, with robots taking on assembly-line roles once held by human workers. While human labor is still needed for some tasks, robots can do jobs more quickly and precisely at a fraction of the cost.
- Retail: Automation and online sales have already cut into the profits of many traditional retailers. With the advent of voice recognition, autonomous checkout systems, and robotic stocking, the number of retail jobs may decline in the near future.
- Transportation: Self-driving cars and trucks are being developed and tested with the ultimate goal of reducing reliance on human drivers. This could result in fewer jobs for taxi drivers, bus drivers, and truckers.
- Restaurants: Chain restaurants are introducing automated food ordering kiosks and robot chefs, which help keep costs low while cutting down on labor costs.
- Financial Services: Automation and artificial intelligence are making it possible to process financial transactions more quickly and accurately. This is likely to reduce the need for humans to do certain types of finance-related tasks.
These are just a few industries that are likely to be affected by the future of work. As technology and automation continues to evolve, it is likely that more changes will be made in the coming years.
3. What Qualifications or Skills Will People Need?
The future of work is sure to bring an abundance of changes to the way we work. With these changes, some qualifications and skills needed to succeed in this rapidly changing world will be updated too. Adaptability and the desire to continue learning and growing will be paramount.
Qualifications Needed:
- A good working understanding of technology and its applications in the workplace.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- The capacity and motivation to continuously learn and stay current with new tools and trends.
- The ability to solve problems, both practically and creatively.
- Organisational skills to manage tasks, processes and workflows in a variety of industries.
- Strong analytical and research skills.
Skills Required:
- The ability to think fast and make decisions quickly.
- The capability to be a creative problem solver.
- Adaptability to changing circumstances and feedback.
- The ability to communicate confidently and professionally.
- Leadership and team skills.
- Excellent customer service skills.
4. Changes to Employment Structures
Digitization and automation will cause shifts in the way workplaces and organizations are structured. It’s very likely that the HR departments will focus more on role analysis and learnability (how quickly roles can be adapted to changing needs) rather than on the performance metrics they have traditionally measured.
Here are some changes to expect:
- Flatter Organizational Structures: As digital transformation drives efficiency and streamlines processes, we can expect flatter structures with fewer levels of management. This will enable managers to take on broader roles and get closer to their employees.
- More Accountability: With employees more connected and more innovative ways of working, organizations need to ensure their employees have the right accountability to effectively deliver results.
- Flexible Working Arrangements: With growing access to cloud technology, many organizations are already starting to offer flexible working arrangements to enable employees to work from different locations. We can expect to see more organizations transitioning to this way of working.
- The Rise of Contingent Workers: Technology is unlocking new opportunities for workers to transition to flexible roles. We can expect to see a shift away from full-time employment towards more contingent working arrangements such as gig work and project-based engagements.
The key for most organizations will be to integrate new technologies in a way that allows for better visibility, faster decision making, and a more productive and engaged workforce.
5. Benefits to Working in the Future
1. Flexible Working Hours
As businesses increasingly adopt new technology, we’re seeing a shift in the traditional 9 to 5 workday. This will give employees more freedom when it comes to setting their working hours, allowing them to adjust to their particular work-life balance needs.
2. Employee Empowerment
The focus on automation in the workplace will enable employees to focus on more creative, high-value tasks. Employees will be empowered to take ownership of their work, leading to greater satisfaction and job satisfaction.
3. Remote Working Possibilities
We’re already seeing an increase in remote and flexible working opportunities, and this trend is likely to continue. This will give employees more freedom to work wherever they like, when they like, and from whatever device they like.
4. Increased Learning Opportunities
The development of new technology and automation in the workplace will open up a wealth of learning opportunities for employees. Businesses will have the opportunity to offer training and development for their secondary staff, helping them to stay up to date with the latest trends in the industry.
5. Greater Accessibility for Disabled Workers
The use of automation and artificial intelligence in the workplace will provide greater accessibility for disabled workers, enabling them to access the same opportunities as other employees. This will help to create a more inclusive and diverse working environment.
6. Challenges of Working in the Future
As we prepare to transition into a fully automated workforce, there are a few challenges to be aware of when considering the future of work. Here are just a few of the challenges you might face:
- Redefining productivity metrics – Such metrics, used to evaluate and reward employee performance, need to be adjusted and updated given the rise of automation and the move from quantity to quality.
- The changing role of managers – Managers of the future will have to take on a more objective role in the organization. They will be expected to focus more on mentoring and offering continual feedback, while remaining creative in order to forecast, predict and guide productivity, rather than just determine it.
- Increased need for reskilling and development – Organizations will need to think of reskilling existing talent and developing talent for higher purpose roles—this means offering viable career paths for employees and creating a learning environment equipped with the resources to update skills.
- Growing importance of employee engagement – organisations will need to find new ways to motivate and retain employees in order to keep talent engaged and productive in their roles.
Overall, for the future of work to be successful, employers need to invest in creating a supportive workplace culture and offer tools that help employees develop their skillset and stay engaged in their role. This will form the foundation for sustainable productivity in the future.
7. What Can We Do to Prepare?
In order to prepare for the future of work, there are several things we can do to ensure that we are best placed to take advantage of the opportunities that arise.
- Expand our skills: Developing and expanding our skill sets will ensure that we are employable in the changing workforce. Research the jobs that are rising in popularity so that we can make sure we stay up to date.
- Network: Connecting with people in the industry can be an invaluable tool in finding out about job opportunities. This is especially helpful for people from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds who might not have the same range of contacts as more privileged individuals.
- Be flexible: The current job landscape is extremely unpredictable and job security is increasingly hard to come by. Being open to trying something new is key to our success as workers of the future.
- Upskill: Most jobs will require a certain level of additional skills, either learned online or at a dedicated institution. Considering what qualifications we need can prove invaluable in the long-term.
By taking the time to understand the changing job landscape and investing in our own development, we will be set to take advantage of any opportunities that arise.
As technological advances and artificial intelligence further disrupt the way we work, the future of work is certainly something to pay close attention to. Equip yourself with the tools necessary to make the most out of the opportunities that come your way and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Now that you know what to expect, it’s time to make the most of the future of work.