As pandemic restrictions begin to lift across the US and beyond and we find our way back to a “new normal”, some clear trends in the job market have begun to emerge, while others that have been around for a while make themselves at home. In this blog post we will examine the top 5 trends of 2022 so that whether you’re considering a new career or just interested to see what direction your current position may go in, you can be equipped with knowledge to ensure you are making informed career decisions.
Work From Home is Here to Stay
Unsurprisingly, the top job trend of 2022 is remote work. Pre-pandemic it was rare in most industries to find a position that allowed remote or even hybrid work, but Covid-19 changed that. As many people were forced to adjust to remote work with the onset of Covid, it became integrated into peoples lives. As restrictions lift, many people are finding they have no desire to return to their old routine of daily commutes and uncomfortable work clothes. Not only are employees making this discovery, but many companies realized through the pandemic that remote work opened a whole world of opportunities as it expands the hiring pool and reduces overhead costs such as rent and utilities. Many companies are now announcing the decision to remain permanently remote, or offer hybrid work schedules. It is clear this trend is here to stay, and we can expect to see more companies make these announcements in coming months.
Shortened Work Week
Yes, you read that correctly! A shortened work week is being legalized or tried out in a whole host of countries, with Belgium being the most recent country to announce a 4-day work week in 2022. While unfortunately the US is likely years away from such a move, we are seeing many companies opt to implement a 4-day work week rather than offering higher pay as a means to compete with the increasingly high salaries and inflation. This is especially true in companies and start-up environments that still want to attract top talent but don’t have the budget to offer a competitive pay as salaries and benefits continue to skyrocket.
Better and More Diverse Benefits
We’ve certainly seen better pay being offered by companies since the beginning of the great resignation, but better benefits have possibly been even more of a highlight. Companies are now offering incentives ranging from unlimited healthcare to stock options. Not only are these benefits getting better, but they are also getting more niche and tailored to the individual. Companies commonly offer mental health stipends or have onsite therapists and emphasize their employees’ health and wellbeing as well as family centric benefits like childcare and extended maternity/paternity leave.
A New Major C-Level Role
Culture and politics have officially entered the workplace. Employees now want to be apart of a company that they feel aligns with their values and beliefs and expect their place of work to actively participate in the societal and political debates of the day. This can be a unifying and motivating factor for employees, however it also comes with a level of divisiveness. 3 out of 4 employees in a Gartner 2020 survey said they have actively avoided a co-worker because of their political beliefs, and the same analysis found that employee engagement can drop by one-third when employees are disappointed with their employers stance on a political or societal matter. Due to this shift in workplace dynamic, a new and important role is emerging in the form of a chief purpose officer, which at many companies is becoming the next major C-level role. This role will take on responsibilities which have traditionally been defused throughout departments such as HR, legal, and communications. As equity and inclusion become ever more important within a company, this role will likely continue to be adopted by an increasing number of organizations.
The Rise of skills Based Hiring
A degree alone will no longer suffice. As artificial intelligence changes the landscape of the labor market, new and different skillsets are in demand and they may not necessarily fall under any typical degree that has been established, at least just yet. This means that companies, including large industry leaders such as Google and Apple are moving towards skills based hiring, and in some cases taking away degree requirements from roles altogether. This is not to say that degrees are no longer valuable or serve a purpose, but in industries such as tech skills are now at the forefront of focus. This means that if you’ve ever considered changing industries or career paths but felt you were limited because of your degree or lack thereof, there has never been a better time for you to go for it!
