LinkedIn has published the 2019 Global Talent Trends report revealing the emerging trends that are shaping the future of the workplace.
The report surveyed over 5,000 talent professionals in 35 countries, as well as LinkedIn behavioural insights and conversations with experts and employers. The four new trends dominating this year's report are: soft skills, work flexibility, anti-harassment practices, and pay transparency.
Image Credit: LinkedIn
Workplace Trend #1: Soft Skills
This year's report revealed that while hard skills are still relevant when hiring, soft skills are increasingly becoming more vital when making the final decision. Companies are finding that bad hires are typically lacking soft skills.
The most in-demand soft skills that companies are looking for are creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability and time management.
According to the report, 80% of those surveyed say that soft skills are increasingly important to company success.
Workplace Trend #2: Work Flexibility
Flexible working has become the new norm over the last few years, with LinkedIn members stating that it's of high importance when they are considering a job offer. Whether it involves working from home or having a flexible working hour arrangement, employers are now willing to give employees the freedom to work where and when they want, within reason.
Generally, workers and employers benefit from an improvement in productivity, work-life balance and higher retention rates; but the element of freedom can lead to some challenges with team bonding and collaboration.
Workplace Trend #3: Anti-Harassment
The last two years have seen an increase in demand for companies to do a better job at handling and preventing workplace harassment. According to the report, 80% of talent professionals say their company is doing something to reduce workplace harassment.
The most common anti-harassment tactics include improving existing policies, promoting ways to report harassment safely, and holding training sessions.
Workplace Trend #4: Pay Transparency
Pay has long been a confidential topic in the workplace, but more companies are choosing to own the conversation by sharing salary information themselves. In fact, there has been a 136% increase in pay transparency content shared on LinkedIn since 2014. Transparency can help ensure fair pay across gender, race, and all other demographics.
While transparency makes the hiring process more efficient by streamlining negotiations, many employers are still holding back in fear that transparency could create further salary disputes.