Employees Craving Talent Development – And Even Turning to Robots - American Society of Employers - Heather Nezich

Employees Craving Talent Development – And Even Turning to Robots

While robots are often seen negatively as they replace human jobs, some people are turning to robots to support their career development after the COVID-19 pandemic left them feeling lonely and disconnected from their own lives, according to a new study by Oracle and Workplace Intelligence, an HR research and advisory firm. The study of more than 14,600 employees, managers, HR leaders, and C-level executives across 13 countries found that people all around the world have felt stuck in their personal and professional lives but are ready to regain control of their futures.

The global workforce feels lonely, disconnected, and out of control.

The continued uncertainty due to the pandemic has left many workers in emotional turmoil, feeling like their lives and careers are out of control.

  • 80% of people have been negatively impacted by the last year, with many struggling financially (29%); suffering from declining mental health (28%); lacking career motivation (25%); and feeling disconnected from their own lives (23%).
  • 62% found 2021 to be the most stressful year at work ever. More than half (52%) of people struggled with mental health at work more in 2021 than in 2020.
  • The amount of people who feel little to no control over their personal and professional lives doubled since the start of the pandemic. People noted they have lost control over their futures (43%); personal lives (46%); careers (41%); and relationships (39%).
  • 76% of people feel stuck in their personal lives, feeling anxiety about their future (31%); trapped in the same routine (27%); and more loneliness than ever before (26%).

People are motivated to make changes but are facing big challenges.

Despite struggles over the last year, people around the world are eager to make changes in their professional lives.

  • 93% of people used the past year to reflect on their lives and 88% said the meaning of success has changed for them since the pandemic, with work-life balance (42%); mental health (37%); and workplace flexibility (33%) now top priorities.
  • 75% feel stuck professionally, because they don't have growth opportunities to progress their career (25%) and are too overwhelmed to make any changes (22%).
  • 70% of people say feeling stuck in their career has negatively impacted their personal lives as well by adding extra stress and anxiety (40%); contributing to feeling stuck personally (29%); and taking focus away from their personal lives (27%).
  • 83% of people are ready to make a change, but 76% said they are facing major obstacles. The biggest hurdles include financial instability (22%); not knowing what career change makes sense for them (20%); not feeling confident enough to make a change (20%) and seeing no growth opportunities at their company (20%).
  • Going into 2022, professional development is top of mind with many willing to give up key benefits such as vacation time (52%); monetary bonuses (51%); and even part of their salary (43%) for more career opportunities.
  • However, 85% of the global workforce are not satisfied with their employer's support. They are looking for organizations to provide more learning and skills development (34%); higher salaries (31%); and opportunities for new roles within their company (30%).

Employees around the world are hungry for new skills and turning to technology for help.

To retain and grow top talent amidst changing workplace dynamics, employers need to pay attention to employee needs more than ever before and leverage technology to provide better support.

  • 85% of people want technology to help define their future by identifying skills they need to develop (36%); recommending ways to learn new skills (36%); and providing next steps to progress towards career goals (32%).
  • 75% of people would make life changes based on robot recommendations.
  • 82% believe robots can support their careers better than a human by giving unbiased recommendations (37%); quickly answering questions about their career (33%); or finding new jobs that fit their current skills (32%).
  • People believe humans still have a critical role to play in career development and believe humans are better at providing support by offering advice based on personal experience (46%); identifying strengths and weaknesses (44%); and looking beyond a resume to recommend roles that fit personalities (41%).
  • 87% of people believe their company should be doing more to listen to their needs and 55% are more likely to stay with a company that uses advanced technologies like AI to support career growth.

"The past year and a half changed how we work including where we work and, for a lot of people, who we work for. While there have been a lot of challenges for both employees and employers, this has been an opportunity to change the workplace for the better," said Dan Schawbel, managing partner, Workplace Intelligence. "The results clearly show that investment in skills and career development is now a key differentiator for employers as it plays a significant role in employees feeling like they have control over their personal and professional lives. Businesses that invest in their employees and help them find opportunities will reap the benefits of a productive, engaged workforce."

Invest in your employees with an ASE training course. We offer over 70 unique courses – both in-person and virtually.  The January-April Digital Course Guide is now available – register for any January-April course by December 31st and save with 2021 pricing!

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