Digital and technological trends will be the most important drivers for development in the coming years, and it is no secret that the workplace will continue to transform along with it.

With the constant advancements in technology and rapidly changing expectations of employees, one may wonder what work will look like in the future, whether in the next three years or the entire decade.

So let’s dive into the four key major ways your workplace may change in the next decade. 

1. The Use of AI and Smart Technologies

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been all the rage in recent years, and will most likely remain so for the next decade. Today, about 43% of employees across workplaces use AI to understand data and trends for decision-making; by 2030 it is predicted that AI will contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy. But what are some of the key benefits of AI and smart technologies in the workplace anyway?

From increasing productivity through automation to enhancing customer service by using advanced analytics, there are a multitude of benefits these technologies will provide to your workplace in the future. These can be particularly important if you are in knowledge-heavy industries such as IT and digital communications, engineering, construction, professional and financial services, medical and healthcare services, or even retail and manufacturing.  

2. The Growth of Digital Jobs

It has been thrown around a lot in recent years, what exactly is a digital job in the first place? It is essentially a concept that refers to jobs that are intensive in their use of technology. Some examples include the world of cybersecurity, digital marketing, analytics, design, art, web development, and as well as gaming and software. 

A key characteristic of these jobs is that they can be done virtually anytime and anywhere (such as in the comfort of one’s own home), also simply known as remote work. They are set to grow by 25% (or an additional 90 million new roles) by 2030, which means many workplaces will need them. It also means, therefore, more hybrid workplace models as well — some analysts have even concluded that the future of office work will be hybrid. 

The rapid growth of digital jobs in the next decade expresses the importance of digital skills in the modern workplace. The expansion of digital jobs in the future will mean that digital skills, as a prerequisite for success in the workplace, will become increasingly more significant and emphasized. 

3. Upskilling and Digital Dexterity Outweighing Tenure and Experience

One of the most important changes has been upskilling. For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree in business, you should consider attaining an advanced qualification like the Kettering University online MS in Operations Management to move into a managerial position.

Technological advancements inevitably lead to the creation of what some experts refer to as the ‘knowledge economy,’ which means that the most high-value work is largely cognitive in nature. The flexibility and creativity employees have with their digital skills, as well as their ability to keep up with current technological trends, are referred to as digital dexterity. It is something that requires constant refreshing to remain on top of workforce needs. Workplaces therefore would need to cultivate and create an environment of continuous learning to ensure upskilling is constant. 

According to a 2021 Forbes survey, 94% of employers stated that soft skills outweigh experience when recruiting employees; moreover, technical skills (59.6%) and computer skills (55.1%) were listed as among the most important skills for applicants, which demonstrates that digital dexterity is already crucial even today.

4. More Pop-Up Offices

A pop-up office is a space (usually unconventional) used by companies to temporarily ‘pop-in’ and ‘pop-out’ as a workplace, and they have experienced dramatic growth ever since the pandemic between 2020-2022. They have served as a balance between remote work and working in a fixed office in person; remote work can be isolating and lack human connection while working in a fixed office can be very monotonous and unexciting after a while – pop-offices take the best of both. 

From their cost-effectiveness to ease in scalability, it is no surprise that pop-up offices are a trend that has reshaped, and will continue to reshape, the global economy. Maybe your workplace will transition to the pop-up office model in the future as well.