We thought 2016 was a year of turning points. But we had no idea how 2017 would shape up to hold far more moments that affected the workplace, from the current administration’s changing positions on labor policy issues, to whistleblowers sounding the alarm on sexism, racism, and other unfair practices, to the shifting demographics of the workforce itself with the first members of gen Z making their entry into full-time employment.
Here is a look at some of the more significant trends that will continue to dominate the conversation around work in 2018.
FLEXIBLE, REMOTE, AND FREELANCE WORK
Nearly every survey we’ve seen this year stresses the importance of flexible work for both the already-employed and for job seekers.
A recent study from Staples bears this out. This year, only 32% of employees spent all their time working in or at their office, and 43% of employees say remote work is a must-have.
Laura Handrick, HR analyst of online publication FitSmallBusiness.com, analyzed data from Global Workplace Analytics, Gallup, and others, and also found that telecommuting and working from home is on the rise. “We also found investors are putting more money into hybrid work-live spaces, with companies such as WeWork and WeLive spearheading this trend, and mixed-use (live-work) rentals have increased by 25% over the past seven years.”
Handrick predicts that not only will more companies invest in remote workers, but those who require workers on site will do everything possible to make work feel like home. “Builders will adapt with mixed-use developments that bring workers closer to the office.”
Alongside this is the rapid rise of the freelance workforce, which is growing more than three times faster than the U.S. workforce overall, according to the annual “Freelancing in America” (FIA) survey by Upwork and the Freelancers Union. The number of U.S. freelancers now stands at 57.3 million, representing an 8.1% jump over the last three years. Just don’t call them gig workers. Many freelancers balked at the term, according to the survey, because it suggests they aren’t calling the shots. Indeed, most are not driving for ride-hailing companies, and as many as 36% are earning over $75,000 per year.
Freelancers are also more proactively building skills than their counterparts who are employed by companies. As many 65% of independent workers claimed to be staying on top of career development as jobs and skills evolve, in contrast to 45% of non-freelance workers who are taking similar steps.