2024 End-Of-Year Trends

A quick summary of where things seem to be going at the beginning of 2025 includes the following: 

• Labor shortages are occurring in some areas. Potential causes include low birth rates and an aging workforce, along with skills gaps. Employers’ remedies include internal recruiting, skills-based hiring, and “returnships” – programs designed to re-engage professionals who are lacking some of their previous personal drive. 

• Evolving Worker Expectations include desire for flexibility, work-life balance and growth. Possible tools for employers include career pathing, varied training opportunities, and flexible scheduling. 

• Technological Transformation is occurring at a rapid pace, particularly with the advent of AI and its potential for both assistance and problems. Thorough training in the proper use of such tools is essential for all departments and personnel that are likely to use them. 

• Return-to-work directives are coming from more–even most–employers, including the federal government … and are meeting resistance from some employees who became accustomed to working at home. This will sort out, but the road may be bumpy.