If we combine 2020 and jobs, the consequences of the current health crisis quickly come to mind. But this is only the tip of the iceberg regarding current labour market trends, which can go much deeper. And we have done so: these are the changes in the working environment that will mark the new decade.
Climate emergency: a new business perspective
From being a value of some pioneering companies that dared to take the step to being a necessity for all economic actors —other companies included—, sustainability is no longer a barrier to be overcome, but a path to be followed in order to achieve success. The IMF’s Global Risk Report states that the five main long-term risks are in the environmental sphere. Being aware of the problem is no longer enough: real solutions must be proposed.
You can find out more about why you should work in a sustainable company here.
European policies: when balance is legislated
The new Directive on the Reconciliation of Work, Family and Private life was adopted by the European Council on 13 June and must be implemented by Member States before 2 August 2022. This Directive proposes an approach based on equal opportunities by gender (more women in the labour market, more men taking flexible working hours and paternity leave) but also on flexible working hours (in order to care for dependent family members). Each country will have to define the path that will lead to these goals.
You can now find out which are the best European countries to live and work in.
Work Machine Learning
One of the current trends in the labour market is based on a notion: can Artificial Intelligence make our jobs disposeable? With each new development, technology has shown that many jobs will indeed be automated, but many more will soon be created. The collaboration between professionals and machines can, if executed correctly, delegate the most demanding tasks to the latter, giving the former more time to achieve a balance between professional and family life.
In this article you will find the answer to the question that has been occupying humanity since “The Matrix”.
The (generation) X marks the place
If the first decade of the century was focused on millennials, the next few years are going to put the spotlight on digital natives. However, the employment changes of 2020 have affected everyone, including Generation X members. Their way of reconciling, their values and their professional background have managed to adapt business thinking to the new circumstances.
In “Generation X: how they prefer to reconcile” you can learn more about those born between 1965 and 1980.
From smart city to balance city
The concept of smart city is a promise of today. The city of the future, of balance. And we must apply its business model of balance: citizens should participate in creating the urban model. Better technology, resource efficiency or government commitment will not be enough. It’s the ordinary people who have to decide what all these tools are going to concentrate on.
Check out “From Smart City to Balance City” to learn more about the future of urban municipalities.
What (and where) COVID-19 left us
The forced transition to telework has not been easy for many jobs. In addition to the lack of time to implement it, of necessary infrastructure (not everyone has a room that serves as an office) and of living space (sharing the new workplace with family members of all ages), there is also the lack of experience of some countries and companies in managing teams remotely.
To know more, you can read our article “Teleworking and coronavirus“.
Current labour market trends in organisational culture
Teleworking is enjoyable, but, like all novelties, we must reach a point where it is built on the trust of supervisors and the comfort of workers. A recurring theme in 2020 has been the merging of spaces: it is no longer possible “not to take work home”. Work is already at home. And the challenge, now for 2021, is to change the vision and organisational culture in favour of the professional who works from home. Which companies are prepared to take this leap?
You can find out more about this topic in ” Inhabiting time: a new look upon work in times of coronavirus“.
Real diversity in real work teams
Speaking of corporate culture, synergising is a necessary move. This concept has been modernised because we no longer understand that the joint action of two parties is better than the sum of the separate results. At least, not if the two parts are equal. Diverse teams are at the forefront of large multinationals. And diversity is not only based on attitude, but also on origin.
In this article you can further delve into diverse talent.
Everything is based on balance
Both on family and professional balance. Current trends in the labour market are leading to a new way of looking at work-life balance. It’s no longer understood that the individual is a professional in his job and a person in his life outside it. Now the limits do not even blur: we simply accept that they do not exist.
2021 will be the year when all the innovations left behind by its predecessor, in a rush to meet real needs, will be established. New ways of working, of reconciling, of retaining talent. Let’s hope that time, in this case, apart from healing, perfects everything in favour of finding a real balance.