Online job portal JobStreet asks employers and jobseekers to reinvent their approach towards recruitment and work, as the new future of work begins, post-pandemic, and is here to stay for good.
Results of JobStreet’s Global Talent Survey show that 80 percent of Filipinos prefer jobs that are either remote or hybrid. The survey also predicts that full-time employees working from home will comprise 34 percent of the workforce by 2023, compared to 3 percent in 2019, due to the disruption of traditional work arrangements by COVID-19.
“The implications brought by the pandemic are here to stay, and only future-ready companies can continue succeeding. 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,” says JobStreet Philippines country manager Philip Gioca.
He underscores the emerging disconnect between recruiters and jobseekers as only one of five companies was able to implement work-from-home amid the pandemic due to resources and policy restrictions.
JobStreet lists recommended practices that employers can implement to start adapting to the future of work. First, employers need to find a balance between governance and flexibility by setting expectations with employees while also allowing them some flexibility.
Gioca suggests incentivizing onsite work through benefits such as health protection, transportation or leave days so that employees don’t feel disadvantaged. He also cites the need to empower employees by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs well.
Employers can provide new computers or laptops, cellphones and allowances for internet connection, upgrades in programs and software used in virtual meeting rooms and policies and guidelines to manage these when necessary.
Employers should also monitor the progress these innovations through feedback surveys or employee interviews to determine if there are positive changes created.
“By taking these extra steps, employers are showing their employees that they respect their insights and that they are working to improve the company for their benefit. Not only will this lead to employees’ job satisfaction and productivity, but it also strengthens the relationship between employers and employees,” Gioca says.
While employers transition to future m-ready workplace, JobStreet says job seekers also play a crucial role in making the labor market thrive in a future-ready workplace.
Gioca encourages jobseekers to practice and prepare for working in a hybrid work environment, especially when this type of work setup is likely to be the preferred work model.
He recommends that candidates work on mastering digital collaboration tools and processes in preparation to meeting the required skillset of employers.
With work environments slowly transitioning to hybrid or remote models, companies will subsequently adopt more of these tools and platforms to streamline work regardless of employees’ location, he says.
Jobseekers can leverage by familiarizing themselves with platforms such as Trello, Google Workspace, Basecamp, Notion and more, which are commonly used to help with scheduling, accountability and file management between employees.
Gioca also encourages employees to 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.
“With more companies trying to future-proof their workplaces, jobseekers can also do the same by taking the time to understand the work environments of the companies they’re applying for and investing in soft skills and practices that are in-demand in any job,” Gioca says.
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 BPOs contributing the largest portion of the demand. Davao Del Sur came in next with a 55-percent growth rate, and Bukidnon had a 52-percent growth compared to JobStreet’s 2020 data.