The days of employees sitting at their desk in an office from 9 to 5 are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Today’s workforce is more often working from home, working from a coworking shared space, or working on the go. What we’re seeing is a huge shift from the traditional model of working to a new approach, referred to as the on-demand workforce, lending to more inclusion and diversity in the workforce.
This shift to an on-demand culture in the workplace was sped up exponentially in 2020, as the majority of the workforce in the United States shifted to a work from home model, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While originally unsure of how the transition would go, many employers and organizations found that their business thrived -- employees were happier, overhead was cut, and a new way of doing business was born.
What is the On-Demand Culture?
Managing people as a resource used to be simpler and more straightforward. Employees knew their role within the organization, and companies knew local networks where they could find new talent for any open roles. Today, however, companies can reach out to a seemingly limitless number of people world-wide to contribute to what they’re working on. Companies are combining the experience and skills of both internal and external workforces to drive their goals forward, lending to an on-demand workforce that is able to contribute to overall company goals on a project basis.
How is the On-Demand Culture Impacting the Workplace?
We can see changes happening in the workplace every day, as new ideas are created and new technologies are invented. It may seem like these changes are happening slowly, but if we look back at how people worked just 10-20 years ago, it’s easy to see how much things have changed.
We predict that today’s on-demand culture will impact the workplace in 2022 in a number of ways:
More Coworking Locations
With many employees out of their traditional office, and a growing number of freelancers, this on-demand workforce is searching for a relaxed, enjoyable alternative to the workspaces of the past. As a result, a huge number of coworking spaces have opened in recent years, and we expect to see more of this in 2022. These shared spaces offer a creative and laid-back environment for virtual workers, perfect for collaboration and connection.
More Companies are Going Remote
As companies have seen success employing a remote workforce, we expect to see even more companies going remote in 2022. 2021 was a huge year for working remotely, and this trend should continue in years to come.
An Increase in Digital Nomads
2022 should see an increase in digital nomads, as more on-demand workers don’t have to report to a traditional office. Rather than foraging the lands for food and shelter, these nomads of today are roaming from country to country, exploring different sites and cultures while they still complete their work. Nearly 5 million people identified as digital nomads in 2018, with 17 million more planning the move one day.
On-Demand Talent Platforms
The on-demand workforce lends itself to on-demand talent platforms, where companies can go to hire top-notch talent on a project-by-project basis. Many of these platforms handle sourcing, screening, and even onboarding employees so that the hiring organization doesn’t need to.
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