SmartBrief on Workforce, an
advisory board I am a part of, asked me to provide some predictions on
workforce developments in 2010. I'll share a few here and would love to
hear yours too:
As the economy recovers,
people will flock to employment opportunities that allow them to do work that's
personally meaningful to them: Once the job market stabilizes, all of the people who have
been biding their time in unsatisfying jobs will look for ways to leave them,
and employees will once again have the upper hand.
The workplace
model of "same time, same place" will continue to disappear: Now that we can be connected regardless of our
physical location, work activities will be distributed across central offices,
remote locations, and community locations. The typical eight-hour workday
will be spread across a 14 plus hour window to allow us to attend to needs at
home and work with colleagues abroad.
Active Baby Boomers will
force a new definition of retirement: Although the majority of Boomers are reaching official
retirement age, many have no intention of leaving the workforce, opting instead
for non-traditional careers that allow them to give back to
society.
The hot button HR issue
will be employees' use of social media: Executives will struggle with how to moderate it, and
what rules and regulations should be put on the books to ensure that
organizational resources and property aren't compromised and that reputations
aren't risked.
A large influx of
graduating college students (Generation Ys/Millennials) will put
intergenerational dynamics on everyone's
radar:
1988-1990 are the biggest birth years in American history. Up to now,
studying and improving how the four generations communicate with one another
has been reserved for a small number of elite organizations. In 2010, if you
aren't paying attention, you're losing your competitive edge.
Alexandra, thanks for these predictions for the next year. I especially liked 1 and 3. I think it's so true that people have a hunger to do work they find meaningful. The rise in volunteering over the last few months is another demonstration of it. The poor economy can be keeping people from seeking full-time employment they find meaningful, so they're currently seeking other avenues. It's exciting to think about the possibilities that will open up when the economy and the job market improve--as exciting as considering the huge potential in an influx of retirees who want to continue contributing and giving back to society!
Posted by: Cheryl Mahoney | December 17, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Your 5th point might as well be a global stat, as Gen Y / Millenials are a large force to be reckoned with no matter what country you're talking about.
Posted by: Barrie Bramley | December 18, 2009 at 07:51 PM
@Steve: I would love to attend that conference. Do you know when it is next year?
Posted by: Alexandra Levit | December 26, 2009 at 02:38 AM
@Barrie: True, and I love to get global stats. If you have any, free free to send them my way.
@Cheryl: I agree that it's an exciting time, and I do think the recession is driving people into careers they might not have had the courage to pursue otherwise. Thanks for the comment!
Posted by: Alexandra Levit | December 26, 2009 at 02:41 AM
Elderly people deserve a quality of life in old age. They have been people who have forged this effort and dedication we are living today. We offer the best of us and restore all the good they have done for our country
Posted by: Costa Rica 4 retirement | April 27, 2010 at 03:57 PM