Mara Sahu
Introduction
The modern workplace is in a state of transformation. Employees are more diverse, remote work is becoming the norm and new technologies are changing how we work. This poses challenges for many companies, but also offers them an opportunity to change how they operate. Here we’ll explore some key workforce trends that executives need to consider as they lead their organizations through this transition.
Changing workforce demographics
In the next decade or so, there will be a major shift in the makeup of your workforce. The Baby Boomer generation–those born between 1946 and 1964–will be retiring in droves, leaving behind them an enormous gap that needs to be filled by younger workers. This means that you’ll need to adjust your strategy for attracting talent if you want to stay competitive in today’s marketplace.
The first step toward preparing for this change is understanding what makes millennials different from their predecessors as employees:
The rise of the gig economy
In the 21st century, the gig economy is on the rise. Millennials, who have been raised in an era where technology has become ubiquitous and they can live online through social media channels like Snapchat and Instagram, are more likely than previous generations to participate in this type of work environment. In fact, according to a recent study by Freelancers Union and Upwork (an online marketplace that connects businesses with freelancers), 43{b863a6bd8bb7bf417a957882dff2e3099fc2d2367da3e445e0ec93769bd9401c} of millennials say they’re already participating in the gig economy or plan on doing so in 2017.
The benefits of being part of this type of workforce include flexibility and freedom from office politics while enjoying greater opportunities for self-employment than ever before–and employers benefit too by hiring individuals with specific skillsets rather than entire teams at once
The need for agile talent practices
Leading the workforce transformation in the 21st century is a daunting task. The need for agile talent practices that can change as quickly as your business needs change and with each new generation of employees is essential to success.
Talent management is a key component of digital transformation, but it’s also one of the most challenging areas for executives because it requires an understanding of both people and processes–not just technology! When you’re making decisions about how best to utilize your resources, consider these three elements:
Digital transformation in the workplace
Digital transformation is the process of transforming an organization from an analog to a digital environment. This can be achieved through different means, including:
- The use of new technology
- Processes that enable more efficient working practices and collaboration between employees, customers and suppliers
- An organizational culture that embraces change
A new approach to workforce transformation is needed to meet the demands of today’s workforce.
The workforce of the future will be different. The demands on organizations have changed and become more complex. In order to meet these demands, a new approach to workforce transformation is needed that focuses on building an agile, digitally literate and globally connected employee base that can adapt quickly as business conditions change.
Conclusion
As you can see, the workforce of today is vastly different than it was just a few years ago. The rise of the gig economy has created new opportunities for workers but also new challenges for employers. This means that businesses need to rethink how they recruit, train and manage their employees. In addition, digital transformation in the workplace is reshaping how we think about work itself–from how we collaborate with colleagues across distances to how we manage tasks on our own schedules instead of being tied down by traditional 9-5 hours at an office location
