Winning in an Employee's Market

"It wasn't until years later that I realized the downside of the digital age. For better or worse - everything was at our fingertips. Everything was "instant." It felt like the only thing limiting our success was the number of hours we were willing to put into a day's work. And there was always someone who was willing to work longer or harder, filling every spare hour with research, writing, and output."

"Then came the pandemic, and we saw a shocking thing happen. Instead of mass lay-offs and skyrocketing unemployment, we had The Great Resignation: millions leaving their jobs when asked to return to the office. Compounding this reduction in the work-force, demographic trends are signaling another shift. In just a few years, we'll hit a critical threshold where there will be more Americans aged 65 and older than under 18, a historic first. Retirements will outpace replacements, leaving gaps across all industries."

The digital age delivered instant access and constant expectations, raising productivity while eroding boundaries and harming well‑being. Workers increasingly filled spare hours with research, writing, and output, creating pressure to outwork others. The pandemic triggered mass departures from jobs as many employees refused to return to offices, producing The Great Resignation. Demographic shifts toward an older population and accelerated retirements will reduce labor supply, creating an employee's market. Humanistic leaders who value people as whole humans and create environments where people want to work will gain advantage. Adaptable leaders who foster belonging and community will thrive in the new world of work.

Read at Psychology Today