by Denis Pennel

for staffingamericalatina

I recently spoke at the Global Recruiter magazine Summit 2014: “Deliver the Future”. The summit explored the future of work from many angles, including legislation change, economic shifts and digital recruiting. In many ways the future is already here but the speed of innovation and technological development have prevented us from appreciating how quickly the world of work is changing.

You may be thinking “but what does this mean for me?” If so, the likelihood is that you’re part of Generation Y who TIME magazine last year labelled the ‘Me Me Me’ Generation due to their self-centred nature. However, self-centred does not mean selfish; Generation Y are enduring a rocky road entering the labour market and yet they have maintained a high sense of social responsibility. They are the best educated generation of working age but globally youth unemployment is high and underemployment is commonplace. Despite these challenges Generation Y are still positive about their career aspirations and have very different expectations of their career than previous generations.

A recent Gallup poll found that young people seek a polycentric approach to life, where life is seen as a system of values organised around multiple focal points, such as work, family, relationships, hobbies and commitments, in which none act as the pivotal centre. In addition Generation Y are less anxious about job insecurity than previous generations; many see instability as a ‘normal’ characteristic of the world of work. So what does this mean for you? It means that the traditional work/life balance is fading away and the two are merging into one.

It is not Generation Y alone who are signalling the end of the separation between work and life. This has been a long-term shift over the last thirty years since mobile technology was first introduced. In the past, work encroached on our personal lives, technology allowed us to work outside of the office, the pace in which business happened increased rapidly and working hours were no longer confined to 9-5, but now, as technology has developed, our personal lives have invaded the workplace. This has manifested in bring your own device (BYOD), social media infiltration and workers being expected to bring their personality, creativity and passions to their job.

As the work/life lines blur, globalisation expands, technology develops and work models change, the world of work is becoming more complex. To navigate this complexity new job profiles growing in importance; the Protector, the Optimiser and the Storyteller (as first identified by ManpowerGroup). These jobs already exist in other forms but are being redefined as people are expected to do several jobs in one. The Protector will manage risk for organisations, including risks in IT systems, law and finance. The Optimiser will ensure that the correct infrastructure is in place for a company to function, which is where big data managers and yield managers will meet. The Storyteller will give meaning to engagement, through social media, internal and stakeholder communication and marketing (e.g. community managers).

New job roles are not the only solution to navigating this complexity; I believe that private employment services will become integral to effectively matching companies and individuals. Already experts on the labour market, they will emerge as the necessary connector between organisation and employee. This will be vital to match skills and talent to job positions. They will help individuals to develop their career as they move from job to job, providing career advice and a consistent point of contact. They will also play a vital role in the HR management of organisations dealing with a high turnover of workforce in response to shifting supply and demand. This is all aout simplifying the complexity!

So what does the future of work look like? One job for life will be practically unheard of, the work/life balance will be a thing of the past, work and job will no longer overlap and multi-activity will develop. The world of work will continue to become far more complex than ever previously imagined.

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About Denis Pennel

Managing Director of Ciett and Eurociett, Denis Pennel is a labour markets expert with deep knowledge and years of experience relating to employment at global and EU levels. He just published “Travailler pour soi”, a book about the new realities of work.

Follow Denis on Twitter @PennelDenis

About Ciett, www.ciett.org

As the International Confederation of Private Employment Agencies, Ciett is the authoritative voice representing the interests of agency work businesses. Founded in 1967, Ciett consists of 48 national federations of private employment agencies and seven of the largest staffing companies worldwide. Its main objectives are twofold: to help its members conduct their businesses in a legal and regulatory environment that is positive and supportive; to gain recognition for the positive contribution the industry brings to better functioning labour markets.

Follow Ciett on Twitter @ciett_waytowork