Everything You Need to Know about Workplace Change Over the Next 5 Years

Nobody has a crystal ball to gaze upon our future workplace, but one thing is certain:

The world of work in 2025 will be markedly different from today.

Artificial intelligence, workforce automation, demographics, economic and countless other factors are shaping the workplace of the future. What changes are in store over the next five years?

Let’s take a look:

Business structures will become more dynamic.

For businesses to keep pace in an increasingly VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environment, the old organizational chart will give way to more dynamic, project-based teams. As a result, jobs and the people who hold them will evolve more rapidly, too. The gig economy will become even more prevalent over the next several years, and organizations will rely more heavily on project-based workers and professionals.

Technology will augment our work.

Artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning and other technology have been part of our workforce for years now. Over the next five years, however, these tools will become more advanced, valuable and widely adopted in the workplace. Organizations will need to stay ahead of tech trends, looking for ways to capitalize on the competitive advantages these advancements bring. Employees and leaders at all levels will need to become more comfortable as co-workers with intelligent tech, collaborating to leverage the strengths of man and machine.

Generation Z will enter the workforce in droves.

Born between the mid-90s and the early ’00s, this young, talented, tech-savvy cohort will bring a wealth of change to the workplace. With significantly different priorities, values and skills than their predecessors, Gen Z will spur new dynamics in the workplace such as:

• Bi-directional training and mentorship. In addition to traditional training and mentorship models, younger workers will also train/mentor older generations in the workplace.
• Decreased tenure and job loyalty. Due to their comfort with change and desire for working for employers or causes they’re passionate about, Gen Z will fuel the gig economy. Employers will have to work harder to retain young talent, adapting their work models, technology, training and more to accommodate this demographic’s needs and goals.

Skills needed for effective leadership will change.

As the 4^th industrial revolution changes our role in the workplace, leaders must change their approach too. If a command-and-control leadership style will no longer work, what will?

• Embracing change. Leaders at all levels must view change as an opportunity and be willing to flex their thinking, processes and teams to take advantage of those opportunities.
• Building AQ (Agility Quotient / Adaptability Quotient). In an era of human curiosity and greater innovation, leaders must guide their staff effectively through change – keeping them motivated, assuaging their fears and helping them adapt in a volatile environment.
• Using intuition. As leaders increasingly rely on computers to handle logical, analytical tasks, human intuition will become even more valuable. Managers must get comfortable reading between the lines and making important decisions even with incomplete data.

Talent shortages will increase.

As we mentioned in this post, “Biggest Talent Shortages in 2020,” skills gaps, low unemployment and disruptive technologies have created massive talent shortages across industries that will worsen. Experts agree that we’re still in a state of “full employment,” and talks of a 2020 recession are fading. These employment and economic factors, coupled with the continued retirement of the Baby Boomer generation, will make it even tougher to recruit qualified people for the foreseeable future.

PrideStaff: Your partner in managing workplace change.

While we can’t predict the future, our national staffing and employment agency is prepared to help you navigate important changes in your workplace by:

• Cost-effectively flexing your workforce
• Finding the qualified workers you need
• Improving your organizational agility

What can we do for your business? Contact your local PrideStaff office today to learn more.