Biggest Job Market Trends in 2022

The job market has seen major disruptions over the past few years mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this situation will not likely calm down anytime soon. As a job seeker, staying on top of the current job market trends is your best chance at landing your dream job. 

Remote Work 

Working from home has become the new normal after the pandemic. A February 2022 Pew Research survey found that about 57% of workers say they rarely or never worked from home prior to the outbreak. 

On the plus side, nearly 64% of these workers stated that remote work has made it easier for them to balance work with their personal life. And many (44%) answered that working from home has made it easier for them to get their work done and meet deadlines. 

People’s preference for home and remote working isn’t leaving anytime soon. Job seekers should expect home and hybrid working options as standard when applying for positions.

Self-Employment Skyrockets

Aside from remote work, job seekers can expect to see more positions for contract work, project work, and one-off commissions. More and more workers are finding that self-employment is a better option for them than conventional employment. 

Although self-employment is a risky path to choose, the pandemic made it a vastly more appealing option. A New York Times press release stated that nearly 4.4 million businesses started up over lockdown in America alone.

And a December 2021 survey found that 95% of self-employed Americans plan to stay self-employed for the foreseeable future. Two in five entrepreneurs said that COVID-19, in part, created their opportunity for self-employment. 

One of the top benefits of being self-employed is that you’re in control of every aspect of your company. You can structure your work environment the way you want, make your own work schedule, and hire who you want to hire. 

Additionally, workers are generally more passionate about what they do when they’re starting their own companies or freelancing. 

In this digital age, there is a multitude of tools and software that people can use to fully start their own business. Therefore, more companies will be forced to adapt to a more varied job market. Workers are looking for more flexibility these days, and traditional salaried and hourly positions may not cut it in 2022 and beyond. 

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Now more than ever, companies and organizations are beginning to recognize the urgency of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Since 2020, companies have had to rethink and revamp their diversity and inclusion strategies and initiatives.

Job seekers today can expect to see many workplaces focus on DEI instead of D&I. DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Equity in the workplace refers to fair and impartial processes and outcomes for each individual in the company.

Therefore, leaders and employers need to be mindful of the challenges, barriers, and advantages at play for everyone at any time. 

Additionally, many organizations are focusing on the multigenerational workforce. The generational makeup of the current workforce includes up to five different generations: The silent generation, the baby boomers, the generation x, millennials, and generation Z. 

Employers and HR managers must be aware of the attributes and abilities of each generation and use different strategies that cater to these diverse employees. 

Automation and AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made big moves in the workplace throughout recent years. This technology goes hand-in-hand with increased automation because it can be used to improve accuracy and results during automated tasks.

Natural language processing (NPL) is a branch of AI that gives computers the ability to comprehend text and spoken words in the same way humans can. And machine learning (ML) is the branch of AI that uses data and algorithms to imitate the way humans learn and continue to learn through experience.

Human resources (HR) professionals were early adopters of AI, using talent acquisition programs to source, recruit, evaluate and communicate with candidates with great efficiency.

Additionally, HR uses chatbots in numerous ways, including helping employees find company policies or benefits information, implementing wellness programs, and supporting employee learning and development by recommending courses, tracking goals, sending reminders, and answering frequently asked questions.