Employment trends and challenges

The labour market is an active and changeable place:

Changes to the population and the work force have forced employment trends in ways that would have been difficult to predict. 

Some of the employment trends witnessed throughout the years are diverse workplaces usually attributed to generational differences as well as racial, ethnic and national origin diversity. 

In addition, technology that enables workers to choose where, when and how they want to work is rapidly changing. There are also occupations and career areas experts predict will outpace the available work force due to the significant demand, shortages and growth for professionals in certain fields.

One of the most obvious employment trends is the multi-generational workforce. Four generations in the work force range from traditionalist, baby boomer, Generation X and Generation Y. 

These generations represent different values, work styles, commitment levels and methods of feedback. Managers are slowly beginning to take notice of this trend, which will continue for many years to come. 

The Center for Innovative Public Policies, Inc. reports that companies ; sensitive to generational relevance throughout the workplace are therefore more likely to build a collaborative and productive environment--where employees can not only fulfill their individual potential, but also cooperatively combine their efforts in pursuit of mutual goals.

Technology Trends

Technological and scientific discoveries are products of the best and brightest engineers of this time who are cognizant of the need to produce results faster, with greater sophistication and across global boundaries. Specifically, technology shapes employment trends such as telework, virtual offices, telecommuting and flexible work schedules. 

Without this type of technology available, the workplace would be reminiscent of that decades ago. Live, face-to-face meetings have been replaced with video conferencing, work groups assemble in virtual fashion instead of in a war room to exchange ideas or prepare for trial. Telecommuters work from home at least part of their time, using secure connections to their company’s intranet.

Replacing other industries in the labor market landscape, health care has become the primary U.S. job sector in the 21st century. Also, with the growth in the aging population of the U.S., there will be an increased demand on health services.

" There is a shortage of nurses, as well as faculty at nursing schools. The duality of these shortages are crippling hospitals that depend on professional nurses, and schools that are dependent on student fees and tuition in order to survive. This means students who aspired to launch their career in nursing are being turned away from schools because of the double-edged shortage.

Ruth Mayhew began writing in 1985. Her work appears in "The Multi-Generational Workforce in the Health Care Industry" and "Human Resources Managers Appraisal Schemes." Mayhew earned senior professional human resources certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute and holds a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

 How to Develop Successful Employees

Employers may feel they need to hire experienced workers in order to have successful employees. However, an employer may hire inexperienced or young workers and train them to be successful employees who are assets to the business. Employee success is often directly related to managerial decisions, training, communication and other aspects of operations.

Invest in training your employees. Employee training leads to improved employee productivity. Employers with successful employees know the theory that well-trained employees will seek work elsewhere is untrue. Trained employees are less likely to leave their jobs. They understand their jobs, are more efficient and more successful. Take the time to train employees to do a good job.

Schedule employee evaluations once or twice per year. Evaluations facilitate communication between the employee and the employer. Listen to and answer employee questions during an evaluation. Remember to give both positive feedback and constructive criticism during the evaluation. Offer examples of ways to improve when giving criticism. For example, do not only say, "You need to improve." Instead say, "You need to improve by arriving to work on time." This type of feedback develops successful employees.

Foster teamwork among your employees. People bring a variety of skills into the workplace, and encouraging employees to work together may increase efficiency. Teamwork breaks up tasks at hand, fosters a cooperative work environment and helps develop successful employees.

About the Author

Samantha Hanly is an organic vegetable gardener, greenhouse gardener and home canner. She grows a substantial portion of her family's food every year. After receiving her bachelor's degree, Hanly embarked on a career teaching dramatic arts, arts and crafts, and languages. She became a professional writer in 2000, writing curricula for use in classrooms and libraries.