what 2025 holds for talent, technology and equity

Hello and welcome to the December edition of the Randstad Roundup. As we say goodbye to 2024, the coming year promises fresh challenges and opportunities that will continue to shape how we work, collaborate and grow. 

Look ahead to 2025: 5 predictions for the world of work

With 2025 just around the corner, technology, talent scarcity and workplace dynamics continue to reshape the labor market and how we work within it. 

In the new year, those who act with purpose and innovation will support environments where talent and organizations thrive together. As the world continues to adjust to the rapid evolution of AI, employers that harness the very best of both human and technological capabilities will reap the rewards, says our CEO Sander van 't Noordende .

At the core of this transformation are five key trends that will define the next year.

1. AI goes mainstream while demand for personality strengths grows

AI will be business as usual in 2025, managing routine tasks and reshaping industries. 

We’ll see vacancy rates for specialized AI skills like natural language processing (NLP). At the same time, while automation handles routine tasks, demand for inherently human traits like empathy, ethical judgment and resilience is skyrocketing. 

2. Equity will withstand the backlash

With talent scarcity defining the global labor market, the core principles of equity — fairness, inclusion and opportunity — are a vital element of successful workplaces.

Our latest report, understanding talent scarcity: AI & equity, found that while AI adoption is surging, access to the technology and training isn’t distributed equally across genders, generations and persons with disabilities. In a talent-scarce world, equity is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a strategic business imperative.

3. The dust will settle on the RTO debate

With some exceptions, the hybrid work model is here to stay.

While the number of fully remote roles has halved, hybrid roles have risen by as much as 300% in some cases. To thrive in this evolving landscape, businesses must embrace flexibility with intentionality. 

4. Gig work gets a makeover

The gig economy is maturing, blending flexibility with increased protections and career pathways for platform workers. 

Talent are increasingly looking for adaptability in their roles and combining multiple types of work is becoming more commonplace. In the face of growing talent scarcity concerns, this shift has the potential to match supply with demand in talent-scarce markets.

5. It’s about people, not generations.

With four generations now sharing workplaces, alignment of values is more important than ever before. 

Common values such as fair pay, flexibility, and growth opportunities will vastly outweigh differences in style or preferences. 

For Sander’s recommendations on how best to address these trends and more insights on what to expect from 2025, read the full article here.

Coming soon — the latest Workmonitor report

The next edition of Randstad’s Workmonitor report is set to launch on January 21 2025. You can sign-up for your copy of our flagship report here!

Packed with the latest in-depth insights into what employees value in their careers, our Workmonitor report aims to empower employers to better understand what motivates today’s workforce — to attract and retain the talent of tomorrow.

We’re excited to launch the report at the World Economic Forum ’s Annual Meeting in Davos, where several of our leaders will be in attendance. If you spot us there, don’t hesitate to stop by and say hello!

As 2024 comes to a close, we wish all our partners, friends, and colleagues a peaceful and joyful holiday season.