Hybrid? Back to the office? The future of work is adaptive.

When we think about work and how the global perception of work has changed in the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the future of work will no longer thrive around the idea of a 9-to-5 job.?

The future of work will need to adapt to increasing employee demands for flexibility. Employers will need to focus on employees’ physical and mental well-being, their skill sets, and passion — at work and beyond.

If we think about it, the future of work is already here.

Creators are now a recognized part of the workforce. Creator economy, comprising over 50 million people, is projected to expand beyond $104 billion by the end of 2022. This creator economy is changing as well — from using social media to solely monetize online content to exploring, experimenting, and sharing content that a creator is passionate about. Creators have shattered the traditional 9-to-5 job rules and several are thriving on their terms.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work and at the same time prompted millions around the world to share their creative spirit on one of the many content creation or dissemination platforms — be it TikTok , YouTube , or LinkedIn , or Instagram .?

Creator economy is changing the rules of business and it would not have been possible without communication enabling platforms — like 微软 Teams, Zoom , or Slack — or the increasing affordability of laptops, smartphones, and access to Wi-Fi.

Companies are testing strategies to bring their employees back into the office. Some are trying to make the workplace more engaging. A few have accepted that the cubicle layout of the pre-2020 workplace needs revision.

One of the biggest, and perhaps underappreciated, changes is the increasing demand from employees for a sustainable workplace and business model. Employees in different parts of the world are stepping out in protest to hold their companies accountable for their impact on people and the planet. In 2021, 亚马逊 employees in 20 countries went on strike and protested for better working conditions and held their leadership accountable for its contribution to the climate crisis — as part of the "Make Amazon Pay" campaign. Demands for better workplaces and the need for tangible sustainable change are rising — across the globe and sectors.

What is a sustainable workplace?

It's a workplace that balances the planet, people, and profit goals to produce success and viability in the long term. It means that a business will be considered unsustainable if it simply focuses on annual profits and does nothing to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its most cherished assets — its employees — and the planet they call home.

Gen-Z will question the traditional work norms

Generation Z, born in the late 1990s to early 2010s, will make up roughly 30% of the total workforce by 2025. This generation is entering the workforce amid rising inflation, looming recession, civil unrest, oxygen shortages, global health emergencies, and climate change. What they witness in their cities, countries and the world is changing the way Gen Z engages at work.

This generation is not prioritizing loyalty to an employer. It is prioritising flexibility in the work arrangement, higher and equitable pay, growth opportunities, inclusion, and mental and physical well-being. Gen-Z knows what they want and are more likely to seek new opportunities where they can get it.

Job opportunities and demand for skills will change too.

Sounds crazy? Well, did you ever think that the United Nations will use blockchain technology to run an NFT initiative to inspire climate action? Did you ever imagine that government agencies and parliaments would hire social media managers to market their works?

The nature of work is changing. Some jobs will become obsolete and several new jobs will emerge. The experience and skill set needed to be a part of this future will change too. Things that machines can't do will be in high demand from humans.

In the ever-changing world of work, the need for upskilling and reskilling will increase. We would need to continually learn, experiment, stay on top of emerging new technologies, and learn more. Whether we work from a cubicle or the comfort of our living room or sunbathing on a beach, the future of work will change.

The future of work will be driven by employees and the value they find in a job.

Well, these are just a few of my predictions for the future of work, and I will be sharing more about finding jobs in the green economy or sustainability space in the coming weeks.?Stay tuned so that you don't miss anything!

Also, leave a comment below and let me know if this was helpful or if you have questions you'd like me to respond to. I'd be happy to help!