The Workforce of the Future

As millennials enter the professional world and technology continues to evolve, the professional workforce in the United States is changing rapidly. Gone are the days of company men and 40-year careers with a single organization; here to stay are location-independent professionals and cross-continental video meetings. By following trends and anticipating changes, businesses and individual employees can be prepared for the future workplace.

Location Flexibility

With advanced communication technology, employees are no longer tied down to a single location. This location flexibility is likely to play an important role in the changing professional workforce. In fact, according to Spherion's 2015 Emerging Workforce Study, 37 percent of workers expressed interest in a combination of on-site and remote work. With additional flexibility, professionals have the option to work and travel simultaneously, reduce the daily commute and escape the confines of the office without sacrificing productivity. Companies benefit from the arrangement with happier workers, lower utility fees and reduced travel costs.

The Decline of Traditional Employees

Independent contractors are on the rise in the professional workforce. In 2010, they made up 7.4 percent of the workforce. The same year, an Intuit study predicted that 40 percent of American workers would be independent contractors by 2020. These professionals do not stay with a single company; instead, they provide contract services to one or more businesses at the same time. An independent worker has additional flexibility to work remotely or travel to different companies around the country and the world.

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance has long been an issue for workers. In the age of smartphones and social media, when businesses must be in contact with customers 24 hours a day, this balance is increasingly difficult to achieve. In fact, the Emerging Workforce Study found that one-third of respondents in the professional workforce worry about the distinction between their personal and professional lives. The same study found that companies who help employees find balance are more productive and better at recruiting top talent. In the future, companies are expected to dedicate more resources to providing sabbaticals, flextime and other programs designed to help employees find time for personal endeavors.

Rapid Skill Acquisition

Technology is changing the way customers interact with businesses, both online and in person; businesses that can keep pace with changes have the potential to bring in new market segments and boost profits. To add new tools into the buying experience with minimal disruption, companies are looking for employees who have a broad range of technological expertise. The professional workforce of the future must be able to get up to speed quickly on new tools and technologies and integrate them efficiently into the workflow.

The demands on the professional workforce in the United States are markedly different than they were just 20 years ago. With each new change in technology, the future workplace becomes a closer reality, and employees must keep pace in order to succeed.

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