Regardless of your industry, the workplace is in a constant state of evolution. However, the pandemic kicked the pace of that evolution into overdrive. What are some of the trends that are shaping the workplace in 2023? Here are a few examples:

  1. Flexibility – This remains one of the leading priorities for job seekers and job holders. Gone are the days when workers are content with working in an office five days a week. Hybrid and fully remote opportunities are here to stay. Some companies are experimenting with shorter work weeks – with positive results. I recently had a conversation with someone actively involved in the recruiting process. He told me that he gets no responses when he posts a fully in-office job. Hybrid openings generate some interest. Fully remote job posting opens the floodgates for applications.
  2. Mental Well-Being – Employee attitudes have changed. There is an increased desire for sustainability in the companies they work for. They also are more aware of what their employer stands for. The most significant trend is that employees want their employers to see them as complete people. This means companies will begin offering more mental health services. Management will need to be trained in spotting situations within this sphere that require their attention.
  3. Management Training – As a general rule, those in leadership positions tend to be older and more experienced. As the workplace evolution continues, management will be confronted with situations they have little or no experience handling. Companies will become more proactive in providing their managers with the tools, skills, and knowledge to handle these situations.
  4. Workers continue to have leverage – This is all about supply and demand. There are more openings than candidates, which shifts the advantage to employees. This leads to…
  5. Quiet Hiring – We’ve all heard of quiet quitting. This is the opposite. Companies will focus on internal mobility to more efficiently use their workforce. They will also provide opportunities for upskilling to their existing employees. This is leading to more significant investment in the workforce.
  6. Productivity vs. Privacy – As remote work increases, companies use tech and AI to monitor their employees. This is nominally being done to increase productivity but raises concerns about employee privacy. This is also impacting the recruitment process as the government is concerned about more transparency in the hiring process.
  7. Soft Skills – Among those in demand are management and leadership in a changing workplace, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
  8. DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts will continue to be a priority for most companies. Workers also think this is essential to any organization they work for.

These are just a handful of the trends impacting the workplace in 2023. While they may not affect every industry, we can be sure of one thing – change is the constant.