HR and the Future of Work

Image credit: Strategic foresight 2024 generated by Co-pilot

We live in interesting and rapidly-changing times. Strategist, futurist and data scientist, Dr Wilson Wong, a guest speaker at Allen Associates HR Hub, explores why it is important to understand the macro-trends and drivers of the future from an HR perspective and how to plan for what may lie ahead.

Technology is shaping work and jobs

Why is understanding the macro-trends and drivers of the future important? In an ever more fractured, still interconnected, and fast-paced world, organisations and indeed individuals have to develop strategies that consider not only the long view but also the broad view, which encompasses the full spectrum of opportunities and threats that are emerging on all sides.

In Human Resources Management, technologies like AI are already augmenting, replacing, and modifying job roles. The technology is already commonly used in recruitment, selection, and onboarding. AI powered sentiment analyses of internal communications and fitness sensors and other surveillance technologies provide invaluable data points on employee engagement, performance, behaviours and workforce health and well-being; feeding the demand for those with data analysis skills.

In legal services, the tech ecosystem is expanding. From the automation of the routine - document review, contract analysis, document template automation, practice management software, and legal research – to  eDiscovery and advanced legal research tools. Technology to locate, catalogue and file relevant case laws, statutes, and regulations to support case work is increasingly better at recognising context and intent. This efficient handling of vast amounts of data is changing the job of legal professionals.

AI impact on non-routine tasks

The OECD Economic Outlook Report 2023 reports that the impact of AI on non-routine tasks is uncertain as the application of the technology is still limited. But the potential of AI to learn, make recommendations for decision making using statistical algorithms do mean that workers who perform a high share of non-routine cognitive tasks, such as white‑collar professionals, are the most exposed to advances in AI. And a cautionary tale from the industrial revolution is that it took more than one generation before the productivity benefits trickled down to significant numbers of new (skilled) jobs.

What can we do?

It’s heartening that in the quick poll of attendees who attended my Future of Work online seminar for Allen Associates HR Hub on 8th November 2024, the top two personal priorities were upskilling and the  transformation of the HRM function to be a more evidence based one using more data and analytics. While the HRM professionals address their top people priorities - employee engagement, talent acquisition, retention, organisational culture, and leadership development, don’t forget the advantages of taking both the long and broad view.

1. Stay abreast of the socio-economic trends around you (e.g. trade-wars, civil unrest, inequalities) as these open up both risk and opportunity.
2. Begin to apply longer-term workforce strategies – talent pipeline, succession planning etc. It’s never too early to build capability and resilience. Do this with a keen eye as to the way AI and other technologies are shaping job roles and skills demand. That way, you are looking out for scarce skills and potential talent ahead of your competitors. It’s great that more than 10% already work on people strategies with a 5–10-year horizon.
3. Upskill your workforce in digital skills, the use of AI and in cyber-security. You need broad literacy and understanding of the technologies to stay in business. Glib but true – it isn’t AI that will replace you but those who know how to use AI/ technology effectively that will.

© Wilson Wong 2024

All rights reserved.

Dr Wilson Wong, Director at WongonWork, is a futurist, economic psychologist, and data scientist focusing on human capital strategy, developing sustainable futures for people and planet.

Email: wilson@wongonwork.com