The eight drivers of change continue to transform the employment landscape.
Technological developments, the growth of social media, an ageing population, the climate emergency, and price rises in oil and gas will all result in:
- the nature of some jobs changing
- new jobs being created
- other jobs disappearing or becoming scarcer
- other jobs becoming more common.
The proportion of the workforce employed in the primary industries (agriculture, fishing, forestry) and manufacturing declined over the last 150 years. Those employed in the service sector increased, to amount to 84% of jobs. Over the last twelve months, those employed in the primary industries have declined further still. In other sectors, the most significant decline has been among those employed in the wholesale, retail and repair of motor vehicles (11.8% to 10.9% of the workforce). This is most likely due to automation. The biggest rises have been in the accommodation and food services sector – perhaps reflecting a sector emerging from Covid restrictions (4.7% to 5.2%), and in the professional, scientific and technical sector (8.2% to 8.5% of the workforce).
Examples of jobs unimaginable just a few years ago include the appointments of Chief Purpose Officers or Chief Happiness Officers, reflecting changing priorities among employers and employees and Chief Remote Officers, reflecting the growing importance placed on embracing new ways of working.