The world of work has been rapidly evolving for the past decade. As new technologies emerge and more people embrace remote work, the way we interact with colleagues, perform our duties, and where we work from has been changing rapidly. In response, businesses must adapt to these new trends to stay competitive.
One of the most significant trends in recent years has been the growth of remote work. According to research by Global Workplace Analytics, remote working has grown by 115% since 2005. In 2019, 3.9 million US employees worked from home at least half of the time, which amounts to at least 3.9% of the overall US workforce, according to an Owl Labs report.
Companies are becoming more flexible regarding remote work initiatives, and many are becoming fully remote, such as Buffer and Zapier. Some of the largest businesses are now adopting remote work to give teams the flexibility they need to be productive. Companies that offer remote work packages are more likely to attract top talent than those that do not. It is an excellent way to keep the most talented workers from jumping to other companies.
The growth of the gig economy is another trend that has seen rapid growth in recent times. It is predicted that by the year 2025, 40% of the US workforce will be freelancers. The gig economy has created a lot of opportunities for people to work for multiple clients at the same time and also have absolute control over the projects they work on. More businesses are adapting to this trend by creating multiple streams of revenue by offering freelancer and gig opportunities, as well as driving continued business growth.
Automation and AI in the workplace has also become an increasingly significant trend. With technological advancement, the digitalisation of every industry is imminent. As automation allows repetitive tasks to be managed by machines and AI, companies can drive business growth more efficiently. This gives companies a competitive edge, and the benefit of efficiency gives greater support to workers. Moreover, some start-ups are going farther in this direction of automation, such as UiPath – an RPA company – which greatly transforms the traditional style of work management, while still maintaining a high level of employment.
In today’s rapidly changing world, upskilling resources are essential to stay up-to-date in any industry. Companies are looking for new ways to help improve their staff with new programs and dedicating more time for their employees towards learning. Companies like Infosys are offering their staff access to online courses that can upskill them allowing them to obtain more work experience to become better employees.
In conclusion, as businesses are adapting to these new trends, companies that want to stay competitive should be prepared to adapt to the current situation and listen to what their employees are saying. This ultimately leads to greater opportunities for growth and improvement, with a focus on where the future of work is headed.