As we approach the new year, the pandemic still has a hold on the way the workplace functions. However, the biggest difference between the future of work and the last two years is that society has found a way to manage this shift and even use it to our advantage.

Although trends such as hybrid offices have come to the forefront of discussion in recent years, they mean very little in the eyes of frontline workers. So what trends can workers from all sectors expect in the future?

For starters, three main work structures will continue to be popular: centralized workplaces, decentralized remote workforces, and the hybrid approach.

The biggest differentiator in the future will be that workers will have a bigger say in their work model preference, rather than being forced into a structure based on the industry they work in.

Along with a more agile workforce, AI will play an increasingly important role moving forward. In fact, the World Economic Forum anticipates that AI and automation will create 97 million new jobs by 2025.

At this rate, workers will likely start to reskill their current talents as their existing jobs transform, and begin to work alongside this new technology.

AI will initially be used to take over repetitive, menial tasks, while people will exercise their human-related skills, such as strategic thinking and emotional intelligence, to make work-related decisions.

Additionally, as job roles change and evolve in the coming years, leaders will need to emphasize the importance of new skills. By doing so, businesses will be able to address new challenges head-on, thus encouraging innovation in the workplace.