6 Ideas For The Future Of Work

The global workforce experienced quite a few shake-ups in the last few years. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the looming recession, people are wondering how the current work climate will change.

Despite a gloomy economic forecast, technology is rapidly advancing, and companies are adjusting to unexpected circumstances. Apps like Honeygain or Swagbucks allow you to make money from home. Do you want to make a full-time income? You can sign up for Upwork and become a freelancer.

Many money-making opportunities entered the game in recent years. So how drastically will our daily work change? Here are six ideas for the future of work that could transform the way we operate.

1. Remote Work

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home was largely a rare option only freelancers or people working in IT could choose. Since 2020, however, remote work has become a normalized occurrence across multiple industries.

Many companies offer hybrid or remote opportunities because such a move can lower their rent or leasing expenses. It can also drastically reduce commute time, which can increase employee productivity and happiness. People desire the flexibility of working wherever they feel best and more companies will likely shift towards remote work in the future.

Moreover, remote working helps companies adopt digitalization quickly and effectively. Employees can gain access to tools and software that can make everybody’s lives easier, from accounting to development. It’s likely that the demand for B2B digital products will increase with remote work.

2. Gig Economy

The gig economy has been gaining steam for years. It all started with freelancers looking for contract work online. Rather than depend on a full-time job, these freelancers look for short-term projects that require their services. Thus, graphic designers, developers, consultants, and other freelancers earn money through platforms like Upwork.

The gig economy has evolved together with technology. You don’t need particularly fancy skills to make money doing small tasks. For example, you can earn an income by sharing your unused Internet connection with the Honeygain app.

Such gigs won’t make you a millionaire — Honeygain pays its users $3 for 10GB of traffic, with additional ways to boost their earnings through the referral program or special features. However, it’s an interesting development in the gig economy as we’ll see more options to perform small tasks in the future.

3. Automation

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are already transforming many industries. We saw similar phenomena during the industrial revolution when factory work became machine-based. While many jobs were lost, our economy rose to new heights, and innovation continued.

When it comes to modern work life, automation can perform manual or robotic tasks like sending hundreds of emails at once or filling out data sheets. It’ll be a great tool that allows workers to focus on more important things!

AI, meanwhile, is an exciting technology that we’re just learning how to use. While ChatGPT has made a splash, we don’t have to worry about it taking over writing or researching. The human touch will always be necessary when it comes to final products, so workers should view automation and AI as helpful resources to make the most of it.

4. Skills-Based Hiring

In the future, hiring may be less focused on formal qualifications and more on skills. Many IT companies set the tone for hiring people with the necessary skills instead of their counterparts with only formal education and no practical abilities.

Employers may ditch the old-school resumes and interviews. Instead, they’ll focus on evaluating potential employees on their skills, applicable knowledge, or even interpersonal qualities like problem-solving.

Such change in the future can bring more flexibility and better opportunities for people of all backgrounds. A change in the system can result in fair employment and a better match between candidates and jobs!

5. Workplace Wellness

Some companies already focus on their employee well-being with extra paid time off, flexible schedules, mental health resources, and gym memberships. An all-around perk package is a must for any notable employer, and it’s likely to be a trend in the future.

Companies should take extra steps to protect the well-being of their employees, especially in remote or hybrid workplaces. Otherwise, businesses face the risk of losing high-performing people.

Healthy and happy employees are essential to successful task completion, increased productivity, and the brand image. Letting your employees be your spokespeople is more trustworthy than any PR campaign you could think of!

6. Collaboration Across Borders

Globalization has already brought many changes to the workplace, including increased collaboration across borders. Add it to remote work opportunities, and you can suddenly build a team of professionals from across the globe.

In the future, this trend could continue to grow, with companies tapping into new markets and talent pools while working on global projects. This can come with challenges, but it will also bring opportunities for new communication tools and cultural awareness training for employees.

The Future Calls

The future of work is likely to be more flexible, with remote work, the gig economy, and automation all playing a role. Working hours, environment, and pay should be more inclusive and diverse. In addition, employers may shift their focus to skills-based hiring and workplace well-being, while collaboration across borders could become even more important.

These changes will bring together interesting people and facilitate a positive shift in our work environments. The future of work is bright — let’s keep moving toward it!

 

This article is part of Buildremote’s contributor series. If you’d like to share some insights about how you run your remote company, learn more here.