The future of work after COVID-19: what we can expect

In recent months a slew of studies have been published on the future of the jobs market. Researchers began by looking at the figures of which roles are most in demand from companies in the past year, and then made forecasts of the overall scenario. The results show which sectors and roles will see an increase in demand; the skills that workers need to tackle these new career challenges, and the new organizational structures now being adopted by businesses in general.

The fastest-growing sectors and most in-demand positions

While it is true that the economy has stalled in the past eighteen months, several sectors have in fact grown during the pandemic. This trend is set to continue even after the emergency is over, changing the balance of the labour market.

Some prime examples are retail, logistics, and delivery staff:

people in these areas have seen their workload swell exponentially, and are increasingly in demand due to the countless new online sales channels that have been developed and launched during the lockdown. Surveys and sales figures have shown that consumers prefer this form of virtual shopping, meaning that the sector is bound to keeping growing, even in a non-pandemic context.

E-commerce specialists, web developers, mobile developers, cyber security experts… :

there’s a long list of technical figures that are increasingly sought-after for the digital sector and the full range of services for online commerce, consulting, gaming and entertainment. All of these have grown rapidly around the world, meaning that skilled youngsters with a passion for the sector are more in-demand than ever. And it’s not just the labour market, but education too which is adapting its training and specialization methods to meet new demands and keep up with the needs and interests of future generations.

Nurses, healthcare workers, pharmacists … :

The Healthcare sector was growing steadily even in the years before the pandemic. Now, during the pandemic, that expansion has picked up in a way that shows no signs of stopping. Various professional figures are required in the sector, in areas that go beyond patient care. We are also seeing a spike in demand for admin staff, as well as in the manufacturing sector, and in general an increase in services for personal care and wellness.

Skills to tackle new challenges in the labour market

During a financial crisis, competition for jobs is always high. How can job hunters stay competitive and appealing to recruiters? The first thing to do is to show a proven ability to grow and evolve: study, train, specialize. Make use of free time to invest in professional growth as well as other things such as volunteering, developing your own personal projects or passion; this can help show that you’re developing your soft skills.

Communication skills; time management and organizational skills; being empathetic and a good listener; a talent for multi-tasking and problem-solving: soft skills are just as important as academic qualifications and technical skills and can really make the difference in the selection process. However, they’re hard to make out from a classic CV, unless you give details of actual experiences and projects.

Agile working as an organizational factor

The long months of lockdown have allowed us to try out a new way of organizing work remotely. While it wasn’t that widespread before, people all over the world have had to get to grips with what’s known as ‘agile working’. Actually, what we’ve had to deal with during the pandemic is simply working from home. Moving forwards, remote working or agile working is a possibility that allows us to organize where and when we work with complete flexibility. In some cases, it does away with the entire concept of ‘working hours’, in favour of ‘task-based work’. Companies are increasingly looking to evolve in this direction, as they seek to prolong the results and benefits of the new organizational systems.

From the employees’ perspective, being able to work remotely has become a benefit they’re unwilling to forgo. Many will be willing to switch companies in pursuit of fully remote or hybrid organizational systems. People will prefer to work for businesses whose corporate values have taken on board one of the most popular principles of late: work-life balance. The time has come to give equal importance to work commitments and personal interests or family life.

Whether you’re actively looking for new opportunities or don’t want to miss out on chances for growth and development, sign up to our free email service. Our innovative Smart Intuition Technology will ensure you only receive openings that match your skills and expectations.

Visit our website to assess all the current opportunities on the market.

Cover: freepik