The Future of Work: Changes in the Workplace and Workforce

Today's workforce isn't what it was 10 years ago. With remote and hybrid roles, the boom in artificial intelligence (AI) and shifting values, the career landscape has been continually transforming. And the changes aren't stopping any time soon.

If you want to be prepared for the future, paying attention to trends can teach you how to stay up to speed in an evolving workforce.

How is the Workforce Changing?

The world of work has been undergoing some significant changes in several areas. Here's a look at some of the biggest shifts impacting the workforce:

The Rise of Remote and Hybrid Work

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a huge number of businesses and organizations to begin operating remotely. Although many have returned to the office, remote and hybrid work is still much more prevalent than it was prior to the pandemic, and according to Cave, it isn't going away any time soon.

"It has provided for increased flexibility, broader and more diverse talent pools for organizations and improved retention," said Denise Cave, an employer relations team lead and adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Cave leads a remote team, herself, and said working remote emphasizes the importance of intentional, strategic communication and collaboration. "It also requires clear expectation setting for employees to thoroughly understand what is needed to perform one’s work in this type of setting," she said.

Shifting Values

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), Gen Z workers are demanding diversity and inclusion in the workplace, with 56% of Gen Z workers saying they would not work at an organization without diverse leadership and 68% saying their employers aren't doing enough to build a diverse work environment.

As a result, many employers have started placing more value on diversity and inclusion, the WEF said.

An Emphasis on Skills

Skills are becoming increasingly important to many employers, too. According to Forbes, the future of work is skills-based hiring, with most employers finding more success with this practice compared to hiring solely based on degree requirements.

"It is critical for candidates to thoroughly understand the set of skills that they bring to the table when outreaching for job opportunities," Cave said.

Advances in Technology

AARP International noted that automation and digitization both have hugely affected the job market and the way work is done.

But one of the biggest technological advances affecting the job market is the current artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

"We are seeing more and more conversations around the concept of ‘efficiency’ due to AI’s applications for rote, rules-based tasks," said Mae Mullen, an organic marketing and AI strategist at SNHU who creates trainings for employees to effectively and ethically integrate AI into their roles. "This is leading to a reevaluation of work as companies try to determine which tasks AI can be applied to vs. which ones humans are still more effective at."

So, What Jobs Are on the Rise?

According to the WEF, some of the jobs projected to grow the most through 2030 include:*

• Farm and agricultural workers
• Software developers
• Nursing professionals
• General operations managers
• Project managers

What Jobs Are in Decline?

On the other side of the spectrum, the WEF reported that these roles are projected to be in decline:

• Cashiers and ticket clerks
• Administrative assistants and secretaries
• Accountants and bookkeepers
• Security guards
• Data entry clerks

How is AI Impacting the Workforce?

Artificial intelligence has come a long way in the past few years. Now, it's almost everywhere you look. While AI is creating new opportunities in some fields, its functionality has made other careers vulnerable to extinction. And the effects are already becoming apparent.

"Customer service, administrative work and recruitment are all at high risk of replacement by automation due to LLMs (large language models) excelling at repetitive, rule based work," Mullen said. "Though I would argue that LLMs are not suitable for fully replacing a human job due to bias and hallucination, the reality is that many companies are willing to accept these risks to cut operation costs."

But no matter how much AI can do, it can't do everything. There are many roles that AI can't — or shouldn't — replace, according to Mullen. For example, she noted criminal justice positions.

"AI technology is incapable of fully ridding itself of the bias of the culture who created it, which can cause it to recreate real-world discrimination without careful oversight," she said.

Learn more about the future of AI.

How to Future-Proof Your Career

When the workforce changes, the only real way to keep up is to change with it. Cave offered three essential tips to stay relevant in the workforce:

• First, she said a growth mindset and a commitment to lifelong learning ensures that you'll always have valuable skills.
• "Never stop networking," said Cave. "Continually building your network as you never know who your next connection to your future opportunity will be."
• Lastly, Cave said to be aware of how you interact with others. "It will be remembered and positive impressions go a long way," she said.

Professional agility is especially valuable, according to Nicholas Botto, director of Career Services at SNHU.

To future-proof your career, Botto suggested that you consider your short- and long-term goals for work and identify when and where transferable skills might come into play.

"Credentials and competencies are affordable ways for individuals to add new skills or their repertoire or reskill for an evolving economy," he said.

In the wake of this increased emphasis on skills-based hiring, Botto recommended pursuing internships, experiential learning opportunities and relevant certificate programs or microcredentials can demonstrate further development and prove your skills to employers.

"All of these accomplishments help a job seeker tell an engaging and powerful story to an employer: I have the skills, experience and knowledge necessary to help you solve problems and achieve your goals," Botto said.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. They're currently writing their debut novel, which was Longlisted for The First Pages Prize. Connect with them on LinkedIn.