2025 is a new year ripe for new opportunities. While the change in date might not seem like much, each year is defined by unique traits, and no two years are alike. In terms of work climate, 2024 was a challenging year characterized by a difficult job market, layoffs, and mandatory return-to-office mandates. However, it also represented new opportunities as technology evolved and new career paths opened up.

We’re all hoping for a kinder job market in 2025, but it’s difficult to know for sure what to expect. A change in leadership in the United States will surely factor into the year’s landscape as well. But here are what career experts believe will be the year-defining trends of 2025.

Flexible work schedules

This may seem unlikely, considering many companies are still, in 2025, forcing a return to office. JP Morgan is the latest giant expecting a full return, and many companies will follow suit. But workers aren’t a fan, and these policies are almost more about “quiet firing” than anything. Truly evolved companies learned that employees can exceed expectations with a bit of flexibility, and to maintain the top candidates on the market, they’ll need to look to the future instead of returning to the past.

Flexa CEO Molly Johnson-Jones says that while fully remote offerings might not be available like during the pandemic, a focus on finding the right hybrid balancing and a shift to focusing on results over archaic standards will become the norm. More and more companies will move away from a strict 9-5, five days a week model.

“This isn’t about whether remote work “works” anymore—it’s about finding the right balance of remote and in-person working for each organisation.” – Molly Johnson-Jones

More of a gig economy

As part of this more flexible work climate, both employers and job seekers may find that nontraditional arrangements work for their needs. The stand-off between companies and employees likely won’t end anytime soon. Companies may be reluctant to take on full-time employees thanks to a need to provide benefits and the high cost of hiring and training. Meanwhile, employees who seek flexibility and can’t find it in a traditional setting carve their own path, embracing freelance work. Both sides have different reasons for the shift, but it will define 2025.

CEO Yassin Aberra said that freelance work is already common among Gen Z and millennial workers thanks to it offering a way to create your own work-life balance or develop your career when landing a full-time position isn’t working. Meanwhile, Renovo’s Emma Louise O’Brien says that companies will start offering more part-time or “micro-consulting” opportunities. Employees may still prefer a stable, full-time role but must be willing to adapt to this different world.

A change in the guard

Part of why experts expect philosophical changes in the way companies operate is thanks to a change in leadership and demographics. Fast Company found that with many boomers reaching retirement age, millennials are quickly filling those leadership spots next to Gen Xers, and more and more Gen Zers are becoming managers as well.

These younger leaders have wildly different experiences than previous generations, including navigating the global pandemic. Career paths are less linear, and values have changed. What this means, according to Fast Company author Karin Kimbrough, is that we’ll see a higher focus on transferable soft skills and flexibility. Arbitrary experience levels will be less prioritized, leading workers who want to get ahead to make more efforts to upskill and use their skills in new ways.

“Making sure your skills are up to scratch is the best way to get hired in 2025.” –Yassin Aberra

The dominance of artificial intelligence

One of those skills that will dominate work discussions—and news headlines—is the continued rise of artificial intelligence. AI has been a hot topic in recent years, offering quick but often incorrect information and potentially displacing many human workers. AI can do a lot, but companies still struggle to find the best (and ethical) ways to utilize it.

Gartner says this is why leaders need to take a human-centered approach when using AI. Often, many organizational changes based on AI are short-term and risk alienating or burning out human workers. Working with their human employees can lead to better productivity and innovation to create long-term success. As the technology itself evolves, finding the best ways to use it is just as crucial. Investing in both the technology and the application will create new jobs and upskilling opportunities to stay afloat in this changing world. Yassin Aberra said that for human job seekers to stand out in the world of AI, they need to highlight soft skills that can’t be replaced, like strategic thinking and emotional intelligence.

Wrap up

Many of 2024’s struggles are likely to continue into 2025, but as a new generation of workers enter the workplace and millennials take more leadership roles, we’ll see some subtle changes in philosophy. Developing new and smarter ways to use technology and embracing flexibility over rigidity will be year-defining philosophies companies need to embrace to retain and attract top-tier talent.

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