
The 4 Trends that are Shaping the Future of Work
With automation and technology taking over so many areas in our lives, employees are now constantly having to evolve and grow to maintain that ‘edge’. Jobs are now becoming more specialized and being adept at working with technology is crucial. Likewise, employees are also expecting more flexibility, work-life balance and other benefits from their organizations. LinkedIn recently conducted a survey to understand what trends are shaping the future of the employment market. This survey was conducted on 5000 HR and recruitment professionals and combined with behavioural data analysis. What they found was quite interesting.
Of the professionals surveyed, 91% believed that soft skills was the most important trend of the future. Likewise, 72% said flexibility at the workplace, in terms of offering more work-life balance. 71% and 53% said stricter anti-harassment policies and pay transparency respectively. Let’s take a look at these in more detail.
The 4 Employment Trends to Watch Out For
#1. Soft Skills
This term has been used frequently in online articles recently, and for good reason. Technology like AI is gradually taking over numerous tasks and activities. Although ‘smart’, technology lacks the basic qualities of decision making, empathy, emotional intelligence and creativity, to name a few. That’s why the importance of soft skills is on the rise. Organizations are actively seeking professionals with a set of desired soft skills. The challenge now is to find the right individuals for the job. Although soft skills are difficult to judge in one meeting, implementing structured interview processes might help.
#2. Flexibility at Work
Remote working is not the stuff of myths anymore. Over the years, employees are increasingly looking for more flexible working options. Technology has made it possible to work from any place on the planet. Communicating with remote employees is easier than ever, as is managing global teams. Companies are also encouraging employees to pursue activities outside of work and follow their passions. Co-working hubs are becoming the new ‘offices’. Overall, increased flexibility at work is the trend to watch out for in the coming years.
#3. Zero Tolerance towards Harassment and Bullying
Fostering a culture of tolerance and support is a top priority for companies in the coming future. There will be zero tolerance towards harassment and bullying, with importance given to creating easy and safe reporting procedures. 53% professionals also consider training sessions to be an effective means of creating awareness around harassment and bullying. Increased diversity and inclusion across all levels of the organization will become crucial for creating a safe environment.
#4. More Pay Transparency
A survey conducted by PayScale on 93,000 American professionals revealed that two-thirds believed they were being underpaid. The psychology behind pay secrecy fosters suspicion and negativity because employees do not know how much their colleagues are being paid. The new trend is the end of secrecy, more transparency and openness. Recruitment professionals are of the opinion that sharing salaries ensures fair pay, smoothens the negotiation process and allows the interview process to be more focused on the important details.
There you have it! The 4 trends that you need to watch out for in the near future. Preparing for these trends and staying on top of them is the best way to ensure a smooth transition for both your company and your workforce.