While we reflect on our learns from 2024, it’s time to plan for the 12 months ahead. Artificial intelligence, distant working opportunities and skills development – what can we expect from the workplace in 2025?
Technological advancement continues to dominate the headlines, leaving many curious and apprehensive over the tasks, and even roles, AI will soon have the opportunity to perform. Meanwhile, more CEOs expect employees back within the office five days per week.
Listed below are our five biggest workplace trends impacting your profession in 2025.
AI can do your job – how will you respond?
Unsurprising, artificial intelligence and its evolving capabilities proceed to steal headlines with regard to the long run of the workplace. Nevertheless, opinion toward AI and its role on the planet of labor is shifting.
A study by YouGov within the US earlier this 12 months found growing concern amongst employees over AI’s capability to eradicate jobs. Fifty-six per cent of pros feel that job opportunities will decrease, while those who use AI tools were most alarmed by the prospect of this technology replacing people. The equivalent UK survey revealed that just 32% of individuals think the general public sector workplace can be positively impacted, with 74% believing that it is going to lead to fewer jobs (with just 5% predicting more opportunities).
Where does this leave us humans? Jamie Dimon, CEO at JPMorgan Chase, foresees a world during which employees adapt, somewhat than sit out: “If AI changes jobs and operations elsewhere, we’ll cope with it… We like to retrain people, redeploy them, re-educate them.”
With the necessity to upskill and reskill clearer than ever, employees must respond. Along with learning outside of labor, this involves finding ways to retrain with employers. Of their 2024 global report, ADP Research uncovered that just over half of employees who feel strongly about AI are getting the workplace skills training they need. Is your organisation making the identical effort?
Soft skills – and problem-solving particularly – grow in importance
As technology’s reach extends to recent areas of the workplace, people should flex the soft skills that set us up for achievement. Otherwise referred to as human or transferable skills, these capabilities are those that AI will struggle to copy effectively. Indeed, YouGov’s UK report on AI found that respondents were reluctant for processes corresponding to decision-making or HR responsibilities to go away the remit of trained professionals.
Following the pandemic, a white paper on Industry 5.0 and its impact found that problem-solving abilities could be the most beneficial in 2025 and beyond. One other investigation by the World Economic Forum also found that five of the highest ten skills by 2025 would relate to problem-solving and demanding considering.
It seems that these forecasts are coming to pass. Whether by complementing AI’s output or working with other humans on complex challenges, developing and utilising this skillset goes to show you how to succeed.
Where will we work?
2024 was the 12 months that Amazon decided that employees should return to the office five days per week. In Australia, public servants within the state of Latest South Wales have also been ordered back full-time, while the UK’s recent chancellor believes in the identical. On top of this, a KPMG survey of 1,300 CEOs worldwide found that 83% expect a full return to office inside three years – up from 64% in 2023.
The UK government has announced recent laws on flexible working, closely aligning with the EU’s own policy that grants employees the appropriate to request this. Japan and Malaysia introduced laws in 2024 that gives the identical opportunity to folks (like within the EU), with Singapore to follow suit in December. Nevertheless, employers can refuse any requests on several grounds, especially if the applicants usually are not primary caregivers.
While supposed increases in productivity and collaboration are sometimes cited as reasons to finish distant working, it seems that there are other advantages for corporations who’re struggling financially. BambooHR reported that 1 / 4 of VP and C-suite executives hoped employees would quit somewhat than return to the office, reducing the necessity to make layoffs. The bad news for individuals who prefer distant working model is that the economic aspects behind this aren’t changing anytime soon.
Despite this, news of Amazon’s mandate has been met with scepticism and criticism in lots of quarters. In Hays’ UK What Employees Want report, professionals named flexibility because the second most significant factor when deciding between employers (after salary). In the remaining of Europe and the Middle East, over half of employees surveyed in Hays Salary Guides confirmed flexible working as their most significant profit.
Not every organisation can be as daring as Amazon, and distant working opportunities can be on the market in 2025. For instance, employers in Australia and Latest Zealand aren’t able to make changes, with 74% confirming that their current model will remain the identical in 2025. Nevertheless, this setup may very well be less common than in recent times, so it’s as much as you to choose whether it’s a dealbreaker. On condition that some leaders have already confessed that the policy should result in resignations, will you do the identical in case your employer takes this step?
Does contracting offer expert employees greater satisfaction?
In a recent edition of his LinkedIn newsletter, Hays CEO, Dirk Hahn outlined the advantages for organisations in making contract employees a component of the blended workforce. The fact is that these contractors can offer employers greater flexibility and lower costs at a time when budgets are tight. During research for the Salary Guide in Australia and Latest Zealand, Hays found a 7% increase in corporations planning to rent temporary employees in comparison with last 12 months.
The excellent news for employees is that contracting also offers them greater flexibility. In actual fact, during research for the Hays US and Canada Salary Guides this 12 months, 47% of contractors cited this because the most important reason to go away behind everlasting roles. For those who can line up contracts back-to-back, there’s also the likelihood that your skillset could earn you higher compensation over the course of a 12 months, in addition to the chance to develop necessary skills. These benefits will only improve as organisations further incorporate contractors into workforce planning, in addition to emerging technologies and changing laws in some parts.
For those expert individuals who prioritise flexibility, contracting is perhaps the reply. Nevertheless, it’s not a transition that might be made quickly. Embarking on this profession path involves organising your small business appropriately under the relevant tax rules, being proactive in self-promotion and brand constructing, and having the appropriate attitude towards networking. Yow will discover out more on tips on how to start as a contractor here.
Sustainability goals can’t be dumped on the wayside
Could businesses’ current pursuit of short-term profits come on the expense of their sustainability pledges? As organisations tighten the purse strings and reallocate investment, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is perhaps set to suffer.
In response to Deloitte’s 2024 Sustainability Motion Report, businesses are continuing to commit to reporting but admit that challenges are holding them back. How will you hold your employers to account and ensure these obstacles don’t impact the progress of recent years?
Kirsty Green-Mann, Hays’ Global Head of Sustainability, advises: “Despite economic challenges, ESG continues to stay high on the agenda, particularly because of increasing regulation and customer demand for stronger credentials.
“Asking the relevant questions of your organisation demonstrates that employees have an interest and that it’s necessary for employers to stick with their commitments. Maintaining a tally of what competitors are doing and sharing information on general trends as to why this continues to be necessary can even help.”
