What is the future of work?

Most of us would agree that 2020 was a year like no other! As COVID-19 spread throughout the globe, the pandemic led to some tremendous changes for employees. As all but essential workers vacated the office in favour of remote working, the changes brought about by COVID-19 have been hugely significant.

It is difficult to say to what extent the pandemic will shape the future of work. However, COVID-19 will have an undeniable impact on the future of remote working. For that reason, it makes sense for employers to look at ways of managing change in the workplace to accommodate future events that could require changes in the workplace environment.

How COVID has accelerated the future of the workplace?             

First off, the most obvious change brought about by the pandemic has been the rise of working from home. Employees around the world, across all industries, must adapt to this new style of work. Reactions to the ‘new normal’ are mixed, with some welcoming the opportunity to work from home and others finding the changes to their work environment challenging.

One benefit of the rise in home working is geographical boundaries are no longer a barrier to entry for many candidates. Many jobs are being advertised as fully remote working, meaning the successful candidate can essentially work from anywhere in the world.

Have you lost your job because of COVID? We have developed a handy guide to help you take meaningful steps towards finding new opportunities.

The future of remote working

The global pandemic has provided many employers with evidence that remote working is beneficial to both employees and employers alike. The result of this is likely to be that more employers will consider downsizing their current office premises or even adapt to a policy of ‘remote first’.

One thing that employers must be mindful of is how their staff will adapt to long-term environmental changes. Not everyone has enough space, or the correct equipment required to work from home efficiently. Some people find working from home difficult and prefer an office environment where there are fewer distractions.

As the future of remote working continues to develop, employers should be mindful of how their staff are finding working from home and support their teams in achieving a healthy work/life balance. 

How digitalisation is growing

Another side-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is the growth of worldwide digitisation. The rise of working from home and restrictions on normal activities has fast-tracked the growth of digitisation in many industries, from grocery shopping to entertainment.

In the future, companies will digitise more and more of their services. Even in a situation where all restrictions have been lifted, the pandemic has forced many companies to embrace digitisation quickly.

The job landscape 

We have already seen how employees can benefit from working remotely, such as eliminating the need for candidates to be located close to company headquarters. It is also worth looking at the benefits that employers gain from having their teams working remotely.

The growth of digitisation has massively changed the future of remote working, meaning that employers who continue to embrace remote working can now choose from a much wider pool of candidates, meaning competition for jobs will increase. The benefits brought about by remote working will be profound in areas where there is a skills gap, or shortage of suitable candidates with in-demand skills, such as IT or Digital Marketing.

Read our helpful guide on how to stand out from others in your job search, to gain an advantage in the job market.

Top job skills required

As the future becomes increasingly digital, it’s no surprise that technical skills will continue to be highly sought-after by employers.

e-Careers offers a wide range of courses and qualifications designed to help you upskill and meet employer needs. From Cyber Security to Project Management, our courses will help you get ahead in the job market.

While technical abilities will continue to be high in demand for the foreseeable future, some soft skills will also be a requirement for candidates wondering how to prepare for the future of work. The pandemic has taught us how to be flexible and adaptable while remaining focused on the job at hand. The rise of home working has enabled many of us to be more independent and manage our workloads autonomously.

Call us on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 to speak to one of our Career Consultants today, to discuss your career goals or get started.