In December of 2017, Stephane Kasriel, the CEO of Upwork, a website focused on freelancing, offered a forecast of the world of work. While this forecast is almost two years old, I feel his predictions are valid for today and beyond.
Here is a summary of his observations, accompanied by his bullet points:
- AI and robotics will create more jobs, not mass employment – as long as we responsibility guide innovation. “I predict there will not be a shortage of jobs in the future, but rather a shortage of skills to fill the jobs.”
- Cities will compete against other cities in the war for top talent. “The talent war of the future will no longer be between companies, it will be between cities. As technology untethers society, and remote work becomes the norm, people will live in the cities of their choosing…”
- The majority of the US workforce will freelance by 2027. “ Based on current workforce rates found in Freelancing in America 2017, the majority of the US workforce will freelance by 2027. The youngest workforce generation is leading the way, with almost half of the millennials freelancing already.”
- Education breaks out of the silo. “I’m optimistic that future education will become more flexible to suit the needs of a 21st century workforce.”