Employers, jobseekers urged to embrace future of work

STRESSING that implications brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic are here to stay, an online job portal is advising employers to adjust the style they do business as jobseekers now look for jobs that offer work-from-home or hybrid work models.

Jobseekers, on the other hand, are advised to become digitally prepared and flexible given the changes in working methods.

JobStreet’s Global Talent Survey said 80 percent of Filipinos preferred jobs that have implemented either a remote or hybrid work model. The data also predicted that the number of full-time employees working from home will comprise 34 percent of the workforce by 2023 due to the spike caused by the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the three percent in 2017.

JobStreet Philippine country manager Philip Gioca said only those future-ready employers can continue succeeding in a post-pandemic environment.

“These are companies that operate with speed and simplicity and grow based on their ability to learn, innovate, and find good ideas wherever they may be found,” said Gioca.

According to Jobstreet by Seek, there are recommended practices that employers can implement to start adapting to the future of work and raise employee productivity even in a hybrid/ work-from-home setup.

Best practices

First, employers need to find a balance between governance and flexibility by setting expectations.

Gioca recommended incentivizing onsite work through benefits such as health protection, transportation, or leave days so that employees don’t feel disadvantaged.

Second, is to empower employees by providing them the tools they need whether they work off or onsite. Employers can provide new computers or laptops, cellphones and allowances for internet connection, upgrades in programs and software that are heavily being used like Zoom, as well as policies and guidelines to manage these when necessary.

Third, is to monitor the progress of these changes through feedback surveys or employee interviews.

On the other hand, jobseekers are also advised to practice and prepare for working in a hybrid work environment, and understand how prospective companies apply this in their work environments.

They must also master digital collaboration tools and processes and develop skills that can help them be more flexible and minimize any skill gaps by upskilling. “Not only does upskilling increase job seekers’ chances of successfully landing a job, but it also helps them adapt to the changing demands across industries,” said Gioca.

Market landscape

Based on the latest JobStreet data, location-based demand is still prevalent outside Metro Manila, with Pampanga having the largest growth rate of 86 percent and customer service and business process management contributing the largest portion of this demand. Pampanga was followed by Davao del Sur with a 55 percent growth rate and Bukidnon with a 52 percent growth rate compared to JobStreet’s 2020 data.

The job platform also noted that e-commerce continues to be a stable and high-demand industry, with manufacturing having a growth rate of 47 percent, retail or general sales (46 percent) and merchandising (45 percent) compared to JobStreet’s 2020 data.