Jobhop Jobhop's blog : Top 6 Talent Trends For 2022
Technological advancements have re-shaped businesses in the last decade, creating new industries and destroying old ones like never before.
Advancements in communication channels, analytics, and social media are creating ripple effects on how people collaborate and work.
These advancements are also changing the dynamics of workplaces.
According to a study, 71% of companies have re-worked their remote working policy since Covid-19, and 16% of organisations are now mostly working remotely. There is an upward trend seen in remote hiring processes as well, 80% of companies reported that hiring and interviewing processes are now completely remote. These studies bring forth a need for HRs to re-evaluate talent expectations, recruitment trends, and changing business needs.
While, given the pace of change, surprises and transformations are difficult to predict, assessing the trend helps one stay prepared and be a step ahead. In this article, we have tried to summarise the emerging trends for the changing landscape to help you prepare better for tomorrow.
#1 Focus on diversity and inclusion to continue
Diversity continues to be a focus area for both employees and employers. According to a study, 49% of candidates enquired about the organisation’s diversity goals and initiatives during job interviews. Most companies believe diversity and inclusion in the workplace give a competitive edge, as it fosters creativity, productivity, and cultural awareness and shapes up open workplaces.
#2 Upskilling is the way forward
A growing talent shortage is redirecting companies to focus on upskilling internal resources. It’s predicted that 40% of workers will require up to six months of upskilling by 2025, to avoid a shortage of workforce in the next decade. A study suggests, 77% of employees are willing to learn new skills or completely re-learn, while 74% see it as a personal responsibility to train themselves.
With the rise in Covid-19 amid a digital transformation, it’s no surprise that digital skills are in high demand. Along with it soft skills will become much more valuable in the hybrid workplace. These include team management, emotional intelligence, and effective communication.
#3 Employees feedback will Lead the way
A global study found that 86% of employees feel that people at their organisation felt they are not heard fairly or equally. This was amplified and brought to focus during the pandemic.
If this feeling persists, companies will struggle to retain talent, especially a concern when the “great” resignation is in play and the talent pool is constrained. This will also mean, innovation and ideation won’t progress, as employees won’t speak up if they feel unwanted. That’s why in 2022, leaders plan to listen to their people more carefully and translate the findings into action to improve business outcomes and elevate the employee experience.
The future of "employee voice" will garner more attention than an annual survey, as companies brainstorm ways to create interactive employee feedback programs leveraging technology and integrating multiple channels. For example, IBM holds Global Innovation Jams to help leaders pay attention to the voice of employees.
#4 Sustainability is the talk of the town
ESG metrics are being discussed in board rooms, and HR compensation teams, as companies hold greater accountability in the wake of Covid-19 and the need to address Environmental, Social, and Governance issues. Apple has already added an ESG “bonus modifier” to its incentive structure, while Willis Towers Watson finds that 80% of companies have a road map to incorporate ESG metrics in executive pay plans in the next 3 years.
While tackling these issues is urgent and the right way forward, 78% of executives believe ESG performance creates organisational value and impacts the bottom line. This is because consumers, especially the Gen-Z and Millenials are more attentive to how companies react to climate change, and how they are dealing with equality, diversity, and inclusion.
#5 Work from anywhere is the new normal
Many companies had hoped to transition to a hybrid model in 2022, but the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has put plans of re-opening offices on hold. While many companies have declared indefinite work from home, 79% of the C-Suite affirm that they will let their employees split time between remote working and corporate offices going forward.
Apart from workers having more choice over where to work from, they will also have choices on when they work. As a result of the hybrid model, flexibility, schedule control, and work-life balance are in discussion to benefit employees.
While managing a team of remote employees has its challenges resulting in two-tier workforces. With news coming in of companies creating a disparity in pay between employees choosing to work from home versus an employee opting to show up at the workplace, this practice will need to be thought through to avoid biases in promotions and raises in the upcoming year.
#6 Health and employee welfare tops everything else
From offering mental health days to providing free therapy, companies have tried varied tactics to address employee burnout and mental health issues. A study by KPMG finds that 94% of employees are dealing with stress, and with new variants of Covid-19 across the globe, companies will have to prioritise employees’ mental health for the coming year.
Working remotely would reduce stress for 80% of workers.
Vaccination drives with booster shots and new requirements will also be continued, as Covid-19 continues to spread.
Parting thoughts
While each of these trends will have its own set of challenges, especially with the emergence of hybrid workplaces; keeping an eye out for technological advancements, building connections with employees, and staying aware will help prepare for better employee experiences in the coming year.
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In:- Expert