Talent Archives - The Future of Work Exchange

Millennials and Gen Z Transforming Frontline Work, Part 2

Contingent Workforce Events Talent Talent Acquisition Technology and Innovation by John Yuva on 03/20/2025

Did you miss Ardent Partners’ recent webinar, Shifting Expectations: How Younger Generations are Transforming Frontline Work, that shed light on how the frontline workforce is undergoing a dramatic transformation as Gen Z and Millennials become the dominant demographic, creating new challenges for procurement and talent acquisition leaders managing their flexible workforce.

Moderated by Ardent Partners’ Andrew Bartolini, the session featured industry experts, Christopher Dwyer, SVP of Research at Ardent Partners, and JB Nussbaum, VP of Enterprise Sales for Network, who explored the evolving demographics of frontline workforces and the external workforce strategies to optimize shift fulfillment.

In this three-part series, we provide some of the webcast highlights and a link to the full event.

Let’s explore Part Two and the key takeaways around how the pandemic significantly reshaped the business world, placing a heightened emphasis on workplace culture. Companies were compelled to re-evaluate their environments and consider the impact on employees’ well-being. The discussion around workplace culture has grown increasingly complex, encompassing everything from high-pressure environments to creating meaningful connections between employees and their work. A fundamental question emerged: does workplace culture support employees in feeling valued and engaged, or does it drive them toward burnout?

Burnout and Changing Workforce Expectations

One of the most alarming statistics regarding workplace well-being is that 83% of Gen Z frontline workers report experiencing burnout. This figure underscores the immense pressure placed on frontline employees due to factors such as customer interactions, production schedules, and workplace demands. Generational insights further illustrate a shift in workforce expectations. Surveys comparing Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers indicate that younger generations prioritize job factors such as work-life balance, job security, flexible schedules, and career growth significantly more than previous generations. Millennials and Gen Z rated these elements at 90% or higher in importance, whereas Baby Boomers rated them between 62% and 73%. This suggests that younger employees have higher expectations for their employers and workplace environments.

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Millennials and Gen Z Transforming Frontline Work, Part 1

Contingent Workforce Events Talent Talent Acquisition Technology and Innovation by John Yuva on 03/13/2025

In this three-part series, we provide some of the webcast highlights and a link to the full event.

Let’s begin with Part One and the key takeaways around how the workforce is undergoing a generational shift, with Millennials now being the largest working group and Generation Z expected to overtake them, bringing new expectations shaped by digital engagement and a preference for flexibility.

A Demographic Shift in the Workforce

The workforce is undergoing a significant demographic transformation, with the rise of younger generations reshaping the landscape of employment. While Baby Boomers are gradually retiring, Generation X still maintains a presence in the workforce. However, Millennials have now become the largest working generation, and in the coming years, Generation Z is expected to overtake them. This shift is not only changing the composition of the workforce but also altering workplace expectations and demands.

New Generations, New Expectations

Millennials and Generation Z bring unique perspectives and expectations to the workforce, influenced by their upbringing in a digital era. Their preferences for flexibility, purpose-driven work, and digital engagement are redefining traditional employment structures. The impact of this generational shift is particularly pronounced in the frontline workforce, which constitutes approximately 80% of the global workforce. Frontline workers span a wide range of industries, including public safety, food service, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, education, and customer service.

The Rise of the Gig Economy

Historically, discussions about workforce demographics were not as prevalent as they are today. However, businesses now recognize the need to adapt to the changing expectations of younger workers. The rise of the gig economy over the past decade further illustrates the evolving nature of work, with many employees seeking flexible schedules and greater control over their work-life balance. This trend has been accelerated by economic factors such as inflation, as well as the widespread adoption of remote work.

Flexibility and Autonomy: Key Drivers for Younger Workers

The gig economy, initially driven by the desire for flexibility and autonomy, has grown in response to economic pressures and shifting workplace norms. Many individuals, particularly younger workers, view gig work as an opportunity to supplement their income, gain experience, and achieve a better balance between work and personal life. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, prioritize control over their schedules, which has made gig and shift-based work highly appealing to them.

Adapting Hiring and Workforce Management Strategies

From a business perspective, it is essential for hiring managers, HR professionals, and recruiters to acknowledge and adapt to these generational changes. Millennials and Gen Z now form the backbone of the frontline workforce, making it imperative to develop strategies that cater to their unique expectations. Effective talent acquisition and management strategies should incorporate flexible work arrangements, opportunities for career growth, and a strong emphasis on employee well-being.

The Power of Digital Engagement

One of the key factors in attracting and retaining younger frontline workers is digital engagement. Millennials and Gen Z are digital natives, and they prefer mobile-first communication and technology-driven work environments. Employers who leverage digital tools for recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and internal communication will be better positioned to engage and retain these workers.

Well-Being as a Workplace Priority

Another crucial aspect is the prioritization of well-being. Younger workers place a high value on mental and physical wellness, seeking employers who support a healthy work-life balance. Businesses that integrate wellness programs, provide growth opportunities, and foster a sense of purpose within their workforce will be more successful in attracting and retaining talent.

The Future of Work: Adapting to a New Generation

Ultimately, the demographic shift in the workforce serves as a wake-up call for businesses to reevaluate their employment strategies. The expectations of Millennials and Gen Z are shaping the future of work, necessitating a shift toward more flexible, purpose-driven, and digitally connected workplaces. Organizations that recognize and adapt to these trends will not only improve their ability to attract top talent but also create a more engaged and productive workforce in the years to come.

Five Things You Must Know About the Future of Work (Revisited)

Business Leadership General Insights Talent Talent Acquisition Uncategorized by John Yuva on 12/19/2024

As we reach the end of 2024, now is a good time to look back at the Five Things You Must Know About the Future of Work. The Future of Work Exchange (FOWX) and Ardent Partners hosted this complimentary webinar, The Five Things You MUST KNOW About the Future of Work, discussing the critical capabilities that enterprises can unlock to truly optimize the way they address talent acquisition, extended workforce management, and, most importantly, work optimization. What follows revisits the five critical FOW areas.

#1 The Evolution of Talent and the Future of Work

When it comes to the Future of Work, one of the first things to know is the evolution of talent and talent acquisition. And this idea of the “evolution of talent” can be ambiguous. Talent is always evolving and has been for a long time. The way that businesses perceive their talent is also evolving. And, the way that those businesses get connected to talent, and vice versa, continues to evolve. It’s also being innovated through technology and new strategies and new programs.

The fact is nearly half of our workforce today is comprised of extended workers or contingent workers. We have aspects like direct sourcing and digital staffing that are making it much easier for businesses to find the talent they need to get work done to address those mission-critical projects and fill the appropriate roles. FOWX and Ardent research has been focused historically on the extended workforce and contingent workforce, but we’re talking about all types of talent.

Thus, talent acquisition as a function and as a series of processes has also progressed. We need to consider aspects like the candidate experience, and the way that our culture and our brand attract new talent into our organization. Many business leaders think of the Future of Work as being centered around technology, revolving around the idea that technology drives the Future of Work. And we wouldn’t necessarily disagree with that; technology is a critical piece. And for some aspects and attributes of the Future of Work, technology and innovation are the nexus of those areas.

Technology is a Future of Work Centerpiece

Talent and the growth of the extended workforce represent the first leg of the stool with such things as skills and candidate experience, but also digital staffing, direct sourcing, online talent marketplaces, and core workforce management solutions (such as MSPs and VMS platforms) These technologies are helping us to redefine the way we think about work. We’re living in a world where even though we don’t want to hear the word “pandemic” anymore, the pandemic really did shape what we think about the Future of Work.

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Fractional Executives Filling Critical Leadership Gaps

Business Leadership General Insights Talent Talent Acquisition by John Yuva on 06/17/2024

The Future of Work is shaped by several evolving workplace trends. We’ve spoken about many of them on The Future of Work Exchange and CPO Rising websites. Today, in part one of two, we’re exploring the topic of the fractional executive — a game-changing role for organizations lacking executive expertise.

The fractional executive serves as a flexible and on-demand approach to talent acquisition. Whether it’s a role such as a chief marketing officer (CMO) or chief procurement officer (CPO), businesses now have scalable talent options to execute critical programs and initiatives.

Consider the fractional CPO. Small- to medium-sized enterprises (those with less than $50 million in revenue) that lack a mature or formal procurement department can source the services of a fractional CPO who provides similar expertise as a permanent executive but at a lower cost. Whether it’s a part-time or project-based position, businesses can secure this essential role and its associated insights, making it attainable for any sized organization. A fractional CPO can deliver a variety of benefits, including:

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Talent Experts on FOWX — The Current and Future State of Direct Sourcing and More

Business Leadership Direct Sourcing HR Podcast Solution Providers Talent Technology and Innovation by John Yuva on 03/14/2024

Our “Talent Expert Series” on FOWX features podcast excerpts of today’s Future of Work thought leaders who appear on The Future of Work Exchange Podcast. The series continues with an excerpt from Season 7, Episode 15 featuring Christy Forest, CEO and Executive Director at LiveHire, who discussed the current state of direct sourcing, the future of this high-impact strategy, the reality of total talent management, and much more.

Click to listen to the full interview. Note that this excerpt has been edited for readability.

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Adopt the Lifelong Learner Mentality

Business Leadership General Insights Talent by John Yuva on 02/01/2024

The early weeks of the new year are an ideal time to reflect, revise, and rejuvenate. What professional goals do I want to accomplish in the new year? Where am I in my career trajectory? Do I have the skills and knowledge to meet my objectives? These are all relevant and important questions when assessing one’s professional future. However, what if you could keep those questions at the forefront all year, every year, throughout your professional life — with goal assessment and attainment a constant? Adopting a lifelong learning mentality makes professional development a daily driver and career advancement a priority.

Adaptability to Shifting Trends

Lifelong learning is a growing aspect of the Future of Work as shifting workplace trends require greater adaptability. As such, workers are taking more control of reskilling and upskilling efforts to remain ahead of the curve. In fact, according to ManpowerGroup’s 2023 Workplace Trends Report, 57% of employees are pursuing training outside of work.

“What’s important to people is that they have the relevancy of skills that are marketable today as the world of work evolves,” says Nimo Shah, director of MyPath and Experis Academy for ManpowerGroup.

Personal Growth, Employee Retention

Becoming a lifelong learner involves making professional development and discovery an ongoing initiative. It can mean dedicating a portion of the week to reading about new technologies or trends online, joining a networking or professional group, or enrolling in a class or certificate/degree program to learn new skills. Whatever the path, it’s about commitment to personal and professional growth. This can pay dividends when growing one’s professional brand and deeper connections within the enterprise.

An article by Georgia Tech’s Professional Education department, states, “As employees’ expectations change, lifelong learning can play an integral role in helping them integrate more deeply into the workplace. …If companies invest in lifelong learning options and advocate for the personal and professional development of their teams, it could help with employee retention.”

Journey Toward Professional Discovery

Need some guidance on your lifelong learning journey? The following are strategies to incorporate (one or all) into your daily, weekly, or monthly self-development regimen.

Maintain stretch goals. Setting goals and achieving them provides a sense of accomplishment. However, having stretch goals provides direction and motivation to go beyond what is already achieved. Typically, stretch goals are difficult to reach, if not impossible, but having more attainable goals that are related to a stretch goal can result in some unexpected and positive results — as well as innovative thinking. A stretch goal on the lifelong learning path could be to read 50 business books in a year when your annual average is five books. But with certain goals in place, you’re able to read 12 books (one per month).

Utilize learning channels. Whether it’s online or in-person learning, there are several options to reskill, upskill, or pursue a second career. Udemy, for example, has 57 million users and more than 213,000 courses covering a wide range of categories. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is another excellent e-learning option boasting more than 22,000 courses. If earning a certificate in a specified area of study is your goal, consider a community college. Certificate programs can be completed within months and provide the essential skills for career advancement.

Recalibrate network strategies. How many of us use LinkedIn mostly to approve or make the occasional connection request, browse posts, and tinker with our profile? Commit to recalibrating our networking strategy (particularly on LinkedIn) to really connect. Use the platform to join groups and engage with members. Like posts and leave comments. Reach out to prolific LinkedIn members and subject matter experts to ask questions and initiate dialogue. Attend LinkedIn live events on topics of interest. LinkedIn is populated with tens of thousands of members who are eager to share their knowledge and provide insight into your journey of lifelong learning.

Chase curiosity and wonder. Simply put, if you’re curious about something, find the answer. What is the potential impact of generative AI on my enterprise and its industry? Start researching and reaching out to subject matter experts on LinkedIn to get insights. Lifelong learning is often about chasing the bigger questions and educating yourself while finding the answers. Create a Top 10 list of topics you want to know more about, then three questions under each topic to explore. Prioritize the topics/questions based on your goals and timetable. Lifelong learning is about the journey.

Document the known and unknown. Create a spreadsheet for topics of curiosity and include valuable links to your findings. Individual sheets within a spreadsheet for different topics. Complement the spreadsheet with a journal documenting your thoughts, wins, and losses of lifelong learning. Often, putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys) can lead to unexpected connections and a-ha moments. It’s why going down this path frequently results in innovative thinking and outcomes. Document your progress for a month and see how it feels. You may be surprised how rewarding and motivating it can be to see tangible progress of your goals.

Build a schedule that integrates one or more of these strategies and track short- and long-term progress. Look for a mentor or coach who can provide supportive accountability and insight into growth areas.

Enterprise Support and Reward

While lifelong learning is more of a personal journey for an employee, it doesn’t mean enterprises can’t be active guides. Managers who take an interest and participate in their employees’ professional development can generate growth and career opportunities while gaining benefits as well.

As part of LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends report, Stephanie Conway, senior director of talent development at LinkedIn, says employees who set clear career goals are more focused on the skills to attain those objectives.

“An important enabler in my experience is a shift away from looking at specific job titles when helping employees consider their next move. Instead, it is more effective to identify specific skills they want to develop and experiences that might help them do that,” Conway says.

“A first step is to show employees what career development at your company looks like – through any number of programs, like job shadowing, rotations, or sharing internal-mobility stories. This can both further personal career development and start to build organizational resilience and agility,” she adds.

Lifelong learning begins with that spark of curiosity that can open the door to a world of possibilities. Take charge of your personal and professional development to achieve your workplace and longer-term career goals.

New Kids on the Block — Gen Z in the Workplace (Part Two)

Business Leadership Contingent Workforce General Insights HR Talent Talent Acquisition Uncategorized by John Yuva on 10/16/2023

In part one of our two-part series exploring the pandemic’s effects on Generation Z in the workplace, several studies revealed Gen Z endured learning challenges and subsequent skills deficiencies. Soft skill inadequacies make it difficult to adjust to today’s workplace demands.

Today, we feature part two, exploring how enterprises can most attract and retain Gen Z employees. Not surprisingly, those strategies are closely tied to offering programs and services associated with the lasting emotional impacts of the pandemic.

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New Kids on the Block — Gen Z in the Workplace (Part One)

Business Leadership General Insights HR Talent by John Yuva on 10/09/2023

The global pandemic transformed overnight how work gets done and how employees interact. Enterprises emerged from this tumultuous period with an evolved mindset toward employee flexibility and engagement. As the Future of Work movement emerged, employees from Gen Y to baby boomers recalibrated their work styles — with many adapting to new workforce expectations.

While the multi-generational workforce continues to adjust, newly arrived Gen Z workers (which consist of 20% of the workforce) face several challenges related to their own experiences during the pandemic. Many came through it, not with a new sense of self, but with a feeling of uncertainty and unpreparedness.

The Pandemic and Gen Z — A Retrospective

Most Gen Z workers (representing those born between 1997 and 2012) experienced remote learning (high school and college) during the height of the pandemic. Despite being technologically savvy, online learning and general fears during the pandemic reshaped this generation and its outlook on work and life.

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The Third Thing You Must Know About The Future of Work

Business Leadership Direct Sourcing General Insights Talent Talent Acquisition by John Yuva on 11/01/2022

Over the next five weeks, we’ll be recapping each of the five things discussed during the event.

In our third installment this week, we’ll be exploring the evolution of talent as a Future of Work centerpiece.

Talent and Talent Acquisition Transformed

To begin, the number three must-know about the Future of Work is the evolution of talent as a Future of Work centerpiece. When talking about the evolution of talent as part of the greater definition of the Future of Work, it goes back to how talent and talent acquisition are changing for the better. Major transformations are occurring, but talent helps make the world go round and helps businesses run. It provides a competitive advantage. Talent is the number one competitive differentiator from one organization to another. With the right talent in place, enterprises can do remarkable things.

The fact that talent engagement and talent acquisition have been evolving for some time, speaks volumes for how it has become the centerpiece for the Future of Work. Let’s look at digital staffing, which enables accelerated hiring. Enterprises can find the workers they need very quickly without making a phone call or sending an email to a staffing supplier.

The other link to this evolution is direct sourcing, which has come a long way over the past few years. Direct sourcing is a talent acquisition revolution, but is not a brand-new strategy (the idea of becoming one’s own recruitment agency was spearheaded 10 or 15 years ago). It’s certainly not a new concept, but according to the Future of Work Exchange and Ardent Partners research, it has become one of the number one priorities for businesses today.

Businesses have woken up to the value of direct sourcing. Business leaders enabled with a direct sourcing program and associated technologies have the ability to curate talent into a talent pool or talent community and then segment those workers into tiers by geography, skillset, and compensation, and quickly tap into that community when needed, resulting in true workforce scalability.

Grow the Candidate Experience

Thus, talent communities need to be fostered and nurtured. Businesses need to keep their talent engaged. So much is about the candidate experience, and enterprises should never get away from that. Always touch candidates with value, whether through emails or text messages. Use talent intelligence to know when the best time is to reach out to those in the talent community. This type of end-to-end program helps boost the quality of talent, speeds up talent acquisition and hiring, and improves the way talent is brought into the organization and redeployed in the future.

Again, regardless of the business function, the candidate experience is paramount when sourcing and hiring talent. There needs to be a level of culture-building that extends to clients and candidates and how they perceive the business. Consider how the brand is perceived, down to the colors of the company logo. Are those colors present on the career page and job portal? Do candidates know who the company is and what it stands for? Recognizing and knowing those things goes a long way in building rapport with candidates.

In addition, what is the overall talent experience when applying for a job? Is it easy to apply for a job and is there an assessment? What type of assessment is it? Can it be completed via a mobile app or laptop? Is the assessment aligned with the candidate’s skillsets and the job itself? Does a candidate know if the organization aligns with them from an individual perspective? All those aspects help build up an amazing candidate experience.

Purposeful Work Is Fundamental to the FOW

The other aspect pertaining to the evolution of talent is purposeful work, which will shape the future of the workforce. It is a non-technological component of the Future of Work.

For many, work is a paycheck that puts food on the table for their family, helps pay for their children’s college, and funds vacations and other extra expenses. The concept of purposeful work fits into the idea of what we are doing with our lives. Is there a purpose behind the work that we’re doing? If we’re spending 10 to 12 hours (including commuting) at our places of employment, are we doing something that satisfies us as humans?

Purposeful work has become a crucial way to think about talent and the workforce. People want their work to be purposeful, which causes many to reevaluate where they are in life. They question what they’re doing with their lives. How are they working? Whom are they working for? How do they fit into the Great Resignation, or more appropriately, the Great Resettling? Many workers were either displaced or left voluntarily but will eventually resettle in some way. They may be doing more purposeful work by starting their own business or becoming an entrepreneur. Some become freelancers or contractors to suit a more flexible lifestyle.

Whatever the reason, purposeful work is going to shape the future of the workforce. This is an area that the Future of Work Exchange will always remain incredibly bullish on because it is a fundamental piece as humans to want to have a purpose in how we work.

The First Thing You Must Know About the Future of Work

Business Leadership Contingent Workforce Direct Sourcing Events General Insights Talent Talent Acquisition Technology and Innovation by John Yuva on 10/17/2022

The Future of Work Exchange (FOWX) and Ardent Partners recently hosted their complimentary webinar, The Five Things You MUST KNOW About the Future of Work, which discussed the critical capabilities that enterprises can unlock to truly optimize the way they address talent acquisition, extended workforce management, and, most importantly, work optimization. Over the next five weeks, we’ll be recapping each of the five things discussed during the event. In our first installment this week, we’ll be diving into the evolution of talent and the ever-present phrase, “The Future of Work.”

The Evolution of Talent and Talent Acquisition

Technology is a Future of Work Centerpiece

Talent and the growth of the extended workforce represent the first leg of the stool with such things as the candidate experience, but also digital staffing, direct sourcing, online talent marketplaces, and core workforce management solutions (such as MSPs and VMS platforms) These technologies are helping us to redefine the way we think about work. We’re living in a world where even though we don’t want to hear the word “pandemic” anymore, the pandemic really did shape what we think about the Future of Work.

It’s really critical to think about aspects like remote work and the technologies that support a hybrid workplace and how we leverage digital workspaces, digitization, and the idea of the digital enterprise, all rolling up into this notion of digital transformation. New technology and innovation are not the totality of the Future of Work, but certainly a centerpiece of it. And when we look at the transformation of business leadership, we often juxtapose this with business transformation or business leadership transformation, as well. It is leadership that dictates strategy, it dictates vision, and it dictates culture. And by proxy, we transform the way business leadership manages itself, manages its workforce, and how it expands its power and control over the organization.

Thus, the transparent transformation of business leadership is really critical, and honestly has nothing to do with technology. It all revolves around aspects like conscious leadership, empathetic leadership, empathy at work, and flexibility — thinking about how we lead in very new and different ways. It’s turning on its head the idea that “the boss” is always this very strict person who’s known for rigidity in how he or she perceives and manages the workforce. Business leaders are transitioning to be more flexible in their thinking. When you combine all these aspects together, that’s the future of work and the view of the Future of Work Exchange and Ardent Partners as well.

Ever-Present Future of Work

Thus, the “Future of Work” phrase is ever-present. It’s everywhere. Back when our FOWX architect, Christopher J. Dwyer, started using this phrase in 2013/2014, there weren’t many others using it. Today, we see so many conferences named “The Future of Work” as well as many websites and research studies. But unlike a lot of phrases that are hot today, it’s anything but hype. It really is this idea of permanence. Much of the change that we’ve gone through as people, as leaders, as workers, and as businesses, it’s not hype…nor is it a fad. The Future of Work is permanence. It’s not going to fade from view.

Future of Work “accelerants” that were once seedlings to the world of work and talent are now table stakes. Remote work, for example, is not new. Many of us have been working in a remote or hybrid workplace for most of our careers. And there are many others who have done so, as well. But for some business leaders and workers, it’s a very new aspect of their daily work lives.

The “Future of Work” phrase is ubiquitous. It’s an omnipresent way of looking at the current and future state of work. We are now focused on how we can improve the way we get work done, the way we manage talent, the way we engage talent, and the way that we treat our workforce. But we’re also thinking about tomorrow and the ways we’re going to get work done depending on several factors, including the economy, politics, global markets, and other aspects that could change the business arena.