By: Asia Shamir Ferguson
In a post-COVID society and digitally dependent world, it almost seems outdated to be physically present in an office five days a week that still utilizes traditional work structures. Not only has society yet to recover from the COVID isolation, but remote jobs are taking the industry by storm. The world seems to be changing faster than ever. As the workplace starts to adopt new weekly work schedules and digital technology, here are some trends to expect in 2025.
CONTINUOUS EDUCATION & SKILL BUILDING DUE TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
In our Fall 2024 issue, The Age of AI: What Entrepreneurs Need To Know, Priya Kumar acknowledged the ethical and legal issues that may appear when this technology is implemented into the workplace. Not only can Artificial Intelligence become costly, but it could also cause concerns about skill gaps and a lack of knowledge in digital realms.
Many workers find themselves back in the classrooms (in-person and virtually) to combat this concern to stay up-to-date on new industry skill sets. Especially since AI requires the usage of tedious software, investing in courses that will grant you new skills is a great way to continue professional development. AI can be a scary topic to discuss as the near future presents a possibility of what jobs will or won’t be secure. You may find many of your colleagues investing in a course or two to future- proof their opportunity in the boardrooms.
FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK
The entrance of millennials and Gen-Z workers to the corporate world has challenged all traditions. The progressive views this generation holds has rolled over into the business world, introducing advocacy for mental health and work-life balance. We all know the detrimental effects of feeling overworked. With the majority of your day dedicated to your career, there may be very little time to indulge in the things you love. It could cause low morale and a lack of dedication to your craft. Not only do you suffer, but also your friends, family, and colleagues.
With many businesses adopting this work structure, we’re expected to see higher productivity and increased employee well-being. With the rise of environmental advocacy, this work structure is also predicted to reduce the daily carbon footprint.
IMMERSIVE REMOTE WORKING
While this trend includes many characteristics of the failed metaverse concept, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) may slowly but surely be introduced towards the end of 2025. The logistical aspects of including this costly technology in the workplace have yet to be finalized for much potential software. Yet, as remote work continues to rise in popularity, there still is a desire for real-world connection and team collaboration.
The implementation of this technology has the potential not only to reduce travel costs in correlation to training and onboarding but also to enhance innovation with a more visually collaborative approach to virtual work.
This approach also gives the work-from-anywhere idea more structure if that freedom is abused. Yet the most significant concerns with VR and AR are cost and space. Implementing specific technology equipment in workers’ homes may seem impossible due to equipment size. While many kinks are to be worked out for this trend, keep your eyes peeled for updates and even some test trials in the professional world.
HYBRID WORK-SCHEDULE
As previously mentioned, there is a growing and deep attraction to positions that offer flexibility and freedom. However, since we are human, we still desire human interaction… to a certain extent. To this point, it’s expected that employers will continue implementing
a hybrid work structure in hopes of attracting more candidates. While many employers have already been utilizing this structure, more businesses plan on following in 2025.
In the digital age, it seems like something new is created every day. For businesses to be successful in the modern world, they must adapt to the latest technologies and cultural climates. While the thought of our workplaces changing so drastically could be daunting, being prepared ahead of time can help you confidently face these changes.
