5 Megatrends to watch in 2019
It’s now a new year, so it's time to update the human resources trend again. This year, Adecco Thailand has gathered the world's major trends from Adecco's database and reliable researching companies from both Thailand and overseas. And here are the 5 HR megatrends that will reshape the future of HR which HR and Thai workforce should know:
- Digital Disruption
Continued from the previous year, technology will be even more developed and advanced, whether it is AI, automatic system, or robots in the manufacturing industry. Technologies will play a part as a labor-saving device and a helping hand to boost up work efficiency and create new innovation.
Digital transformation is inevitable. You will also see that many organizations are shifting themselves to become a “Digital Workplace”. Everything will become digitalized and it is changing the way we work.
The technology advancement will create a lot of new jobs, particularly the jobs that are relevant to IT and digital. On the other hand, some jobs will be gradually disappearing as those jobs will be replaced by robots. For example, in customer relations service, an automated call system or Chatbot will be used for answering the calls, in the banking industry, bank tellers will be replaced by online banking and some companies will bring in AI to perform data analysis and prepare financial statements.
Many jobs may not be completely replaced by robots and computers, but the employees need to adjust their role to work to match with the changing world of work. They may have to be more analytical and creative or be more focused on human management as the technology has become so advanced that it takes over some tasks.
- Up-Skilling & Reskilling
Today’s world is changing and developing in a lightning-fast manner, so is our way of work. People must develop the mindset to cultivate lifelong learning. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that, in every 5 years, our existing skills will be worth only half as necessary and new skills will be required. Existing skills will not be able to complete the tasks. Both employer and employee are thus required to focus on upskilling and reskilling, especially digitally related skills and those 10 skills you need to thrive in Thailand’s workforce. The training should be provided continuously to enhance skills and the workplace should be transformed to be a sharing and learning society, in order to keep pace with the fast-changing world or work.
One more interesting point is learning shouldn’t be limited to traditional learning only. We have seen many specialized and widely recognized organizations, such as Google, design new curriculums and provide training to those who are interested. Google has developed online courses with a self-generated certificate that is being recognized and accepted by private companies for the job application and as professional references. This has become a real learning disruption in the world.
- Aging population
Many countries have stepped into an aging society. As well as Thailand, within 20 years, 25% of the population will be elderly. The impact from this change is the decreasing of the workforce, unemployment of elderly, some employees must resign from their fulltime job to take care of an elderly at home and the financial issues derived from retirement. With the collaboration from both the public and private sectors, policies to accommodate demographic changes must be considered and issued. Those policies are flexible work schedules, training to enhance required skills, providing appropriate jobs for the elderly and improving the design of its welfare system to ensure their financial stability after retirement.
- Flexible Workforce
Another trend that has been grown continuously is the Gig economy. We currently see the growth of temporary employment or in a freelancer form, with the combination of factors such as shortage of skilled workforce, reducing the operation burden on the regular employment and with new generations’, the “Gen Y” and “Gen Z”, work attitude. These new generations see freelance hiring as an opportunity for them to earn more revenue than just normal monthly salaries. In addition, they can have more freedom to work and manage their own time. Nowadays we see new generations agree to work as freelancers more and more, both working full time plus freelancer and full-time freelancer.
- GEN Z, A newbies that want to make a difference
In the year 2019, there will be more “GEN Z”, or persons who were born after 1993, joining the organization. It is very important that the employer and senior employees do their best to understand this newbie. Gen Z enjoys purpose-driven work and loves to create an impact on society. They will be more excited and become enthusiastic when they are assigned to significant projects. They love technology and enjoy a Work-life blended lifestyle.
Thus, if the employers are going to engage and unlock the full potential of this generation, they have to give them opportunities and listen to their feedback, modernize the workplace, increase the benefits that fit their lifestyle, such as, provide fitness programs or arrange for relax areas with some food and snacks, a ping-pong table, play station or board game for them to enjoy during their break time. When they are happy at their work, they will be creative and positive thus creating a big difference to their organization.
