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The constant changes and challenges that the job market has witnessed over the last 24 months are extraordinary and terrifying at the same time. The power shift within the markets has affected everyone involved. The world of work is impacted by the current trends in the job market. For instance, the development of remote work gave rise to the gig economy and a new wave of global freelancers. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that we are yet to witness the full scale of changes. The job market has already transformed and the quality of work is becoming more important. People are starting to realize that monetary compensation isn’t everything. They want to work for companies where they feel passionate about what they do.
This shift in their mindset will change the employer-employee equation, giving employees equal power to choose their suitable employers. As a result, employers will have to be more flexible to attract and retain talent. The competition for young talent is fiercer than it has ever been. Let’s have a look at how this new era of work will be influenced by the five sectors that will dominate the future work trends in 2022.
1. Automation and AI
One trend that is shaping the world of work in 2022 is AI and automation. It has created new jobs, changed old ones, disrupted industries, and supported upcoming changes like the 4-day work week. Automation and AI will change the way we work as they will take over many jobs, especially the simple and repetitive ones like data entry or customer service.
For example, AI assistants are simplifying HR operations. Numerous third-party software solutions can automate many of the tasks involved in hiring and managing employees. We can expect more processes outside of HR to be automated in 2022, making work faster and easier. Since artificial intelligence and machine learning can improve accuracy and results in automated jobs, they are expected to go hand in hand with increased automation.
On the other hand, there is a lot of debate surrounding the effects of automation on job growth. Some people believe that automation will lead to mass unemployment, as machines take over human tasks. Others believe that automation will create more jobs, as it will allow businesses to become more efficient and productive. The truth is that only predictions can be made right now.
However, many scientific resources claim that automation can lead to job creation with positive net growth. So far, history has shown that automation does create more jobs in the long run. Ultimately, in 2022 more companies will automate as a byproduct of the growing influence of technology, large shifts to remote work, and increased pressure on a smaller workforce. As a result, the demand from companies providing automated services will increase.
2. Wellness for Job Satisfaction
As stated above, the implementation of new technologies has led organizations to efficiently monitor and provide useful measurements for their working environment and company culture. Hence, wellness has become a concrete metric in jobs. An employee’s wellness is determined by several factors, including physical health, mental health, and work-life balance, and is directly correlated with their job satisfaction.
Many companies are now offering wellness programs that include on-site yoga classes, healthy food options, and stress-relieving activities to maintain a healthy workforce. Αt the same time, employees are expecting better benefits that support them, like better parental leave policies and hybrid modes of working. Hence, the companies that want to attract new talent are adapting quickly to this demand. The trend of wellness in the workplace is growing and is expected to continue to grow in the next decade. As a result, more than 9 in 10 organizations now offer at least one wellness initiative.
3. Hybrid Work and Metaverse
Almost every organization is rethinking ‘where to work’ and ‘how to work.’ Hybrid work is now a well-accepted corporate practice. Employees have expressed a desire for such agreements however, many CEOs still want to keep their workers in the office. The verdict on returning to the office is out and has both admirers and adversaries. However, allowing employees to work remotely indefinitely gives companies an upper hand as many employees now prefer working flexibly. While few people may prefer commuting, fully remote jobs have a high demand, which is expected to grow. The notion that working from home meant slacking off is no longer valid, as the data shows.
We may now consider hybrid work commonplace. Workers without a desk, claim they are more productive when working from home, while also receiving new tools, such as better cloud services and “smart” documents, and increased freedom to work. As a result, stronger virtual tools and the advent of the metaverse will be a key trend in 2022. This will further redefine the concept of hybrid work, as well as onboarding, training, cooperation, meetings, and, of course, entertainment and commerce. Imagine a staff meeting where everyone can communicate and walk about (as if they were physically present), but without having to fly across the country for five hours. This trend has a bright future and many implementations that are not yet utilized.
4. System of Τalents & Skills
With the immediate necessity of making employees comfortable and showing them how they belong in the organization, a system will be established to reveal more about the potential coworker. The trend of “talent intelligence” will be an established system that categorizes employees and helps them harness the power of their unique personality and skills that come with it. This will improve and expand the preexisting old management systems that companies have. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution gains pace, businesses will need to place a greater emphasis on talent intelligence and skills taxonomy.
This is the process of classifying employees according to their skills and capabilities, to better understand, manage and help them grow. We suggest having a strong profile with a best-practice resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile in line with your target jobs to showcase your unique skills and talents. The reality is that only big businesses have a formal process for classifying their employees. This is likely to change in the years ahead, as businesses realize the importance of talent intelligence in terms of strategy and growth. The plethora of changes that happen in the markets worldwide will pose immeasurable pressure on the HR departments to change.
For example, the telecommunication companies incorporating 5G technology, the oil giants switching to environment-friendly practices, and the healthcare organizations transforming into digital health companies driven by big data are the tip of the iceberg. As a result, HR departments will have to find experienced and specialized leaders who are capable of making a change. This phenomenon will create more career changers to take advantage of unique opportunities and pursue better positions, after they have successfully understood the changes in their target industry and themselves, to fit the new market needs.
5. Coaching and Power Skills
Power skills describe our abilities to develop leadership and teamwork qualities and to improve collaboration, communication, storytelling, and strategic decision-making. It is essential for all companies to learn how to cultivate these skills for their employees. Power skills are essential talents like empathy, forgiveness, humility, and creativity, some of the most potent and long-lasting skills in business. While ‘soft skills’ were not extensively acknowledged before the epidemic, we now know they are critical for success. It is challenging to learn and improve these talents. Important abilities such as time management and strategic thinking do not come naturally but can be trained.
How to develop power skills?
Power skills are essential talents that are not usually innate but can be learned with the right tools and support. Training employees in these abilities can be a challenge for every company that understands this trend. However, there are a few ways to make it easier for you to stand out from the competition. Let’s have a look at some below.
- Use online courses and training modules – MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are a great way to allow yourself to learn new skills at your own pace at a very low cost or for free. They can also be used to refresh or upgrade old skills.
- Participate in new experiences – From trying a new sport or hobby, searching for international adventures, doing theater classes, and tampering with creative writing to start a blog or starting a new business, alone or with other people, can provide an excellent environment to cultivate these skills, especially when you can position yourself as an expert and teach others.
- Career orientation services – Career services can help you develop professionally and personally. It is an important part of any vocational journey, especially in critical moments like entering a new job market, aiming for upscale positions with more responsibility, or switching careers.
In conclusion, these trends will create more opportunities that are just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about your career strategy. This article outlined only some of the career trends that are expected to dominate in the next few years. If you need help designing your job search strategy, or have some questions, feel free to reach out to us.
