Over the last 18 months, the global workforce has undergone several iterations as the pandemic forced companies to completely reconsider their operational strategies.
There have been numerous workplace trends to emerge from this time. From labor shortages to high unemployment rates, there is no slowing down what may be one of the most extraordinary eras of the workplace.
Arguably one of the biggest changes has been the shift to remote working, or as some refer to it as “the world’s largest work-from-home experiment.” The beginning of the pandemic forced workers to retreat to their homes, but this has since led professionals to realize that they are able to be just as productive working remotely.
Another trend is the pace of job growth, with June and July of this year seeing a spike due to companies opening back up. However, it will still take time before there is a full recovery in the market.
In fact, many industries such as nonresidential construction, retail and transportation are unlikely to fully rebound until 2023. This is mainly due to the ongoing spread of the virus that is keeping older people at home and some regions returning to pandemic-era restrictions.
So despite the growth seen during this summer and high unemployment rates, there is expected to be continued labor shortages. There are several causes for this, including employees leaving their former jobs to seek better pay and flexible arrangements.