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Where is the future of work headed?

Macroeconomic, social, geopolitical, climate, consumer and technological forces are affecting the way we live and work. Labor shortages remain tight and in this war for talent, leaders must consider how they can meet workers’ needs. Our Future of Work 2022 research found that only 26% of CEOs have a future-ready strategy that is holistically focused on changing how, why and where we work.

While business leaders cannot control the forces of disruption, they are vital in determining how to shape a future of work that allows their people to thrive. Workers need access to resources that support their fundamental human needs, in a supportive environment, regardless of their physical location. Those who do not feel they can be productive, healthy or happy in any work location are nearly 8x more likely to want to leave their organization.

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The CHRO as a growth executive

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Future of work research

Is work evolving in ways that energize people? Accenture research shows that people want to be supported at work and benefit from hybrid work.

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Better to belong

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Honing your digital edge

Digital transformation has been a priority in recent years, but it is now a requirement in the future of work.

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CEOs must rethink outdated approaches to work models

There is a disconnect between what people want from work and what employers are offering. Only 1 in 6 people feel highly connected to their organization and the people they work with. We can’t just blame technology.

We surveyed 200 CEOs around the globe and our research found that leaders believe things need to change from an organizational and people perspective, but 66% of CEOs are reluctant to pursue work models and approaches that differ from those used in the past.

CEOs can no longer rely on approaches that have succeeded in the past as they are based on outdated concepts about people and business. Businesses who are leading the way use technology to unlock the full power of human ingenuity, and build a foundation for healthy, effective workers and organizations that thrive in times of change.

How can clients reinvent the employee experience?

Accenture’s Michael Benyamin talks about our strategy for putting people’s engagement, happiness and productivity above all else.

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What is happening in the future work across industries?

Whether it’s health practitioners, grocery store clerks or delivery drivers, an estimated 2.7 billion people keep our world working. Retaining these workers and keeping them happy, healthy and fulfilled in their jobs will require new thinking and approaches. Leaders across industries are exploring new ways to help their people build skills and grow in their career pathways.

Here are some industry-specific advances in the future of work:

The mining workforce of the future will require different skills, which are being dictated by trends that include artificial intelligence, machine learning and process automation. To attract and retain an effective future workforce, industry leaders are exploring new talent sourcing strategies and different employee value propositions.

Talent & Organization

Talent leaders, agents of public service change

Combining the power of data, tech and talent to accelerate reinvention in public service.

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Talent & Organization

Future of work research

Is work evolving in ways that energize people? Accenture research shows that people want to be supported at work and benefit from hybrid work.

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Innovate entirely new ways of working

Built for change: Reimagining the future of work

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Reinventing the future of work

It is time for CEOs and other business leaders to reimagine new models of work that center on people and how, where and why they work. These are some ways to get started:

52%

say purpose is more of a talent branding tool than a real catalyst for change. A clear and compelling purpose can attract new talent and help existing workers feel that they are contributing to something bigger than themselves.

53%

of CEOs still prioritize productivity over people’s well-beings. When leaders shed command-and-control models, they build trust by giving people autonomy to choose their own path to get business done. 

59%

of someone’s intention to stay with a company is tied to being omni-connected. Better work experiences rely on omni-connected cultures, where people are connected and feel they belong, regardless of physical location.

31%

of workers are confident their skills will be relevant in five years. To unlock human ingenuity, people need ongoing training and digital tools that enable them to connect, work and grow.

The future of work is happening now. Let’s work together to build new models that enable people to be happy, healthy, connected and productive anywhere.

Case studies

Human Resources

Embracing the future of work and omni-connected experience

Helping people connect, contribute and know they belong.

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How Accenture Does IT

Empowering digital workers

How Accenture provides the right experiences, tools and environment to work in a modern way.

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Revolutionizing how we work

A global biopharma company’s human-centered approach is changing the way work happens and the way employees approach their lives.

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Ideate, innovate, change the world, repeat. Be part of a team of talented people using the latest technology to create experiences that win awards and make headlines.

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Frequently asked questions

The future of work is happening now. Responsible leaders are moving beyond physical location to shape the future of work by giving people resources tailored to their needs. In fact, one Accenture study, “The future of work: A hybrid work model,” found that 63% of high-growth companies have already adopted a “productivity anywhere” workforce model.

Simply put, the future of work is digital. By enabling work from anywhere, digital tools allow workers to bring their best selves to work—wherever they are. Yet according to the Accenture report “Modern cloud champions,” just 18% of CXOs have a clear cloud transformation vision and are implementing continuous change across their workforce. Digital transformation has been a priority for companies in recent years, but now it is an imperative for survival. Our research, “Honing your digital edge,” found that digitally fluent organizations score highly in innovation, people experience and customer value.

Although 66% of CEOs believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a need to do things differently from an organizational and people perspective, many are reluctant to prioritize work models and approaches that differ from those used in the past. Only 26% of CEOs are ready to move past traditional approaches to holistically transform the work experience and manage people and organizations in new ways.