Why You Should Future-Proof Your Workforce
Written by Salary.com Staff
March 30, 2023
If the pandemic taught us anything it’s that smooth sailing is never guaranteed. It’s important to prepare your company for unexpected hiccups. At the forefront of this is actively future-proofing your workforce. The aim is to have the right talent and skills at every position and at all times to evolve with industry changes.
Recent Workforce Shifts
Nobody expected the pandemic and its effects on the way we work. So, if you can’t predict the future, why should you plan for it? Well, many of the changes we saw weren’t exactly out of the blue – they were just accelerated. Here are some of the recent shifts in the workforce.
- E-commerce has been on the rise ever since we could sell products on social media. Consumers can click on an item they like and organize its delivery in a heartbeat. When we were restricted to our homes and shopping in person wasn’t an option, e-commerce grew exponentially. Companies had to adjust how they offered and delivered their products or services.
- Technology has always helped us complete our work. It’s used for connecting, building, organizing, monitoring, securing, and delivering. During the pandemic, as e-commerce boomed, classrooms went online, and collaboration, video and messaging software from Zoom, Slack, Google, and Microsoft allowed us to socialize, we all became reliant on technology. The advancements are creating new skill sets and shifting the way we work.
- Remote work has been slowly integrated into the workforce ever since we had access to personal computers and the internet. Once the pandemic hit, anyone who could adjust to doing their work from home did. Now, if you’re not offering hybrid or remote flexibility, you’ll be missing out on a large portion of candidates.
The companies that already took action to stay current with these shifts stayed relevant during the pandemic. Those that hadn’t struggled. The point is, you can’t change your company overnight. It’s for this reason that workforce planning is necessary.
Future-Proofing Starts with Workforce Planning
As an employer, you obviously want to see your company thrive. Workforce planning means being prepared with the right resources and talent for now and the future. It involves understanding current industry trends and having goals to work towards. Though we can’t predict the future, we can make educated assumptions about what to expect.
Start by looking at what you have and what you need to optimize it. This begins with your team. Your employees are assets to your company and therefore require considerate attention. If you don’t address their needs and nurture their career development, you’re not functioning at your best capacity.
If you’re going to seriously and effectively future-proof your workforce, you’ll need to consistently plan, predict, and adjust. This isn’t something that’s done once. As an employer, you should actively be taking steps to ensure that your team adapts and your company remains competitive.
Our Top Tips for Future-Proofing Your Workforce
In the next four articles, we’re going to offer tips on how to future-proof your workforce and ensure your company is prepared for the inevitable changes you’ll face.
People are caring a lot more about living a fulfilled life outside of their work commitments. They’re also caring a lot more about how you as an employer will help them achieve that. In this article, we’ll discuss how flexibility, downtime, and personal goals should be your focal points. Nurture this and you’ll see your company grow. Read More.
Tying in closely with work-life balance is the topic of burnout. Burnout is a World Health Organization-recognized issue that’s on the rise. We’ll explain the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), compensation, and recognizing your employees’ achievements. Burnout is every employer’s worst nightmare. Read More.
As we’ve already mentioned, offering hybrid and remote opportunities is essential in attracting top talent. This article will explain how you can build trust and welcome autonomy in your employees. The advantages include improved retention rates, broader talent pools, and more enthusiastic workers. Read More.
The final article focuses on the importance of upskilling your workers. There is a major skills gap that’s impacting many industries, particularly post-pandemic. Upskilling is something that takes time and effort but means your team is always well-versed in skills and trends. This is a vital step you’ll need to continuously address. Read More.
Dealing with issues your company runs into as they happen is not sustainable. If you’re going to stay relevant and competitive, you need a plan. Future-proof your workforce now and avoid preventable hiccups later.
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