The Future of Work: From the Perspective of an Executive Search Firm CEO

As the owner of two specialist search firms, it's essential to keep up with the rapidly changing world of work to best serve our clients and candidates. The future of work has been a very hot topic on podcasts, in research and is on the tongues of many CEOs. The Future of Work encompasses anticipated trends, changes in our workplace (and our workforce), and how organizations can prepare for them.

So, what are the key findings to date?

Approximately one in 16 workers may have to switch occupations by 2030... That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it would impact over 100 million workers across eight major economies. However, high-skill jobs in healthcare, STEM, and education are expected to grow. The flip side is that low-skill roles will decline and be automated. For my supply chain friends, we will see an increase in warehouse workers. Other occupations that will increase in need will be in the realms of healthcare, energy, and tech.

We are now “post-pandemic”, what does the landscape look like?

COVID-19 accelerated three broad trends that will continue to reshape the future of work:

(1)?Remote work and virtual meetings will persist, but not as intensely as during the pandemic. Our clients are already calling people back to the office, but I think if you want to truly hire the best and most diverse talent, being flexible here should be very important.

(2)?E-commerce, telemedicine, online banking, and other virtual transactions will keep growing, driving huge demand for delivery, transportation, and warehouse jobs. We are seeing numerous roles open up here and if you’re young and deciding upon a career, this could be a great option for growth.

(3)?The pandemic propelled faster adoption of digital technologies, including automation and AI. This is not slowing down. Digital transformations are paramount to staying ahead of the curve.

What does the future look like?

Remote work is expected to continue, although it will see a falloff in the short term, with roughly 20-25% of businesses in advanced economies potentially working from home on a hybrid basis at least. However, not all work can or should be done remotely. Hybrid work setups are likely to persist & be the most common form (for mid to senior levels anyway). Organizations will need to adapt their operating models to thrive in a hybrid world.

Understanding the Main Elements of the Future of Work:

• The nature of work: Organizations must clearly understand how they generate revenue and how work gets done.
• People of the future: Assessing the supply and demand of talent can help organizations address potential skill gaps.
• The office of the future: As technology advances, more flexible remote and hybrid work models may become the norm.
• The world may become "borderless" when it comes to work. Many roles will be able to be performed wherever there is connectivity.

What will Talent & HR’s role be?

TA/HR departments must transform to serve as strategic partners to businesses, focusing on digitization, agility, employee experience, and talent velocity. People analytics & data can also help organizations use data effectively to drive performance. There are a number of ways to go about this including Digital COEs, Automation, new models of HR, etc… Addressing social and economic inequality is crucial for sustainable, inclusive growth. Organizations should prioritize diversity, and challenge biases to increase equity and improve inclusivity.

As Headhunters, staying informed about the future of work is vital to our success. We must keep an eye on trends and anticipate the evolving needs of our clients and candidates. By understanding the changing landscape and adapting our strategies accordingly, we can continue to thrive in a dynamic, ever-evolving world of work.

Let’s see what the future brings…

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About the author

Derek Lutz is a specialist headhunter with a niche focus on senior appointments within operational excellence, end-to-end supply chain, procurement, and manufacturing. He is the owner of?Lean Six Search Group , a full-service headhunting firm, built for the now. When he's not at the office, he's writing, traveling, exercising, and trying to experience all the world has to offer. He recently teamed up with Jeff Lupinacci to create Evolve HR Solutions a connected HR Talent & Advisory Firm solving the HR Puzzle.