The coronavirus pandemic caused employers to refigure how their employees performed their work. With the majority of the workforce shifting to remote work, companies discovered that the process saved a substantial amount of time and money. This led to rethinking how work should be performed to further optimize productivity going forward.

Here are four workforce trends anticipated to continue in the coming years.

Heavy Investment in Health and Safety

Staff members who return to the workplace will need to wear masks, practice social distancing, and potentially submit to temperature checks. Offices also will require state-of-the-art ventilation systems, high-tech detection and disinfectant tools, and regular sanitization of surfaces. As a result, more roles for health and safety will be added. Due to the rising levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in the general population, mental health benefits will increase. Additionally, more managers will be trained to notice and address signs of distress among employees.

More Remote or Hybrid Positions

A significant number of employees will be completely remote or hybrid. This reduces the need for office space and opens up candidate pools to international talent. Companies that want in-person collaboration will provide space for staff to work in based on their tasks. Some areas will be for quiet work while others will be for group discussions. As a result, flexible furnishings, such as desks that easily can be moved and have adjustable privacy panels, will be more common.

Increased Emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

More companies will prioritize moving women and people of color to the C-suite and other leadership roles. Open discussions on racism, sexism, bias, and prejudice also will be encouraged. Additionally, executive pay may be impacted by the ability to build inclusive and diverse teams. Because more CEOs will be involved in the process, greater progress should be seen.

Growing Use of Technology

Automation and artificial intelligence will continue to digitize work processes. As a result, more employees will be hired for automation and digital learning roles. Also, due to increased remote roles, the use of virtual and augmented reality will grow. This will be especially true for training and team-building events. Plus, robots will take over more tasks, including cleaning office buildings. As a result, staff members will need to be reskilled to take on new tasks and responsibilities.

Stay Informed on Agricultural Changes

Talk with the experts at Morris Bixby Group to stay on top of agricultural trends and how they may impact your staffing needs. Contact us today.