Future of work, trends 2024

The changes that have taken place in recent years in the world of work, particularly since the pandemic, have been profound and have revolutionized our approach to one of the most relevant areas of our existence. There are so many examples: from the growth of remote work, to the phenomena of Great Resignation first and Great Regret later. Taking a look at the trends for 2024, it is evident how much these changes, which are still taking place, will further affect the future of work. In particular, there are four trends to dwell on as we look ahead to next year: the overtaking of baby boomers by GenZs in the workplace, developments in generative artificial intelligence (AI), the growth of hybrid work models, and the rise of people who have dual jobs.

More and more GenZs

According to research by Glassdoor, which identified key workplace trends for 2024 in the United States, despite a weakening labor market, Gen Z is poised to numerically surpass Baby Boomers in the full-time workforce. This is a global trend, and even though Millennials will be more in the workforce for another 20 years, the increase in talent from GenZ will definitely have an effect. In particular, experts say it will be the engine for a cultural change that companies can no longer ignore. Generation Z workers, in fact, care deeply about community connections, want their voices to be heard in the workplace, demand transparent and responsive leadership, and care deeply about promoting DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs in the workplace. Another key characteristic of this generation-which will surely have an impact on companies-is its greater technological proficiency than previous generations resulting in greater openness to the use of social media and artificial intelligence tools in the workplace.

Generative AI

According to the“Work Reimagined Survey.” recently published by Ernst&Young, generative AI “is expected to have a huge impact on the job market, career and learning pathways and the reality of work.” “With occupational categories specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning expected to increase over the next five years, employees and employers are also already investing in these technologies,” the report continues. If you want to be attractive to companies, therefore, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the various generative AI tools, understand how they work, and improve skills in their use and development by integrating them into your curriculum.

Hybrid models

Work patterns are also changing: an entire week with 100 percent remote work is becoming less and less common, with the rise of hybrid models to accommodate the growing needs of businesses and the workforce. Research by AT&T Business predicts that by 2024 the hybrid work model will be adopted in 81 percent of U.S. companies (up from 42 percent in 2021), with Gen Z among its most enthusiastic supporters. Remote work, on the other hand, is projected to be chosen by only 19 percent of organizations in 2024, up from 56 percent in 2021. Experts say it is crucial for job seekers to be flexible and be willing to accept that their work life will take place partly remotely and partly in person.

Double work

Finally, another important trend to keep in mind for 2024 is the increase in the number of people doing secondary activities to their main job: according to research conducted in the U.S. by Side Hustle Nation 70 percent of people belonging to Generation Z and 50 percent of millennials say they have or are looking for side businesses. The figure is to be placed in a difficult economic context, with galloping inflation and rising cost of living almost everywhere in the world, which has a huge impact on people in general and therefore also on workers. Pushing toward choosing a second (or third) job is that one can never be too sure of one’s main career, so having a backup plan, another source of income to fall back on in case of emergency, layoff, etc., is always a wise idea.