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What's next for the workplace in 2025?
| 10/02/2025
Could 2025 be the year that our work is revolutionised? While we don’t have a crystal ball, one thing is clear: change is coming. From AI reshaping roles to changing workplace priorities, new opportunities will emerge for professionals at every level. This year offers a promising opportunity for professionals returning to work, with many companies embracing flexible work options and prioritising skill development.
Here’s what to expect and how you can stay ahead.
Workplace trends to watch in 2025
The workplace is set to evolve this year with key trends shaping how professionals work.
Here’s what to expect:
- AI integration: AI tools will streamline tasks. You’ll need to upskill to stay competitive.
- New job titles will emerge: New jobs are being created each year as automation and AI evolve.
- Hybrid work refinement: More companies will fine-tune flexible working policies, balancing office time with remote work.
- Skills-first hiring: Some employers, especially in skills-short markets, will focus more on skills and experience over traditional qualifications.
- Pay transparency and fairer wages: More discussions around fair pay and salary visibility will shape job markets.
A closer look at 2025 trends
Let's explore key areas that will shape the future of work and what it means for you.
AI skills: adapt now or fall behind
In 2025 and beyond, staying relevant means combining a mindset of continuous learning with developing skills that apply across industries. You’ll stand out by mastering new tools, understanding trends, and embracing growth.
Now is the time to master AI. And use it to your benefit. AI tools can save time, aid motivation, and free up time to focus on value-add areas of your job. Instead of worrying about AI taking jobs, they should see it as an opportunity to upskill.
In 2025, employees yet to use AI tools should consider doing so. Artificial intelligence isn’t reserved for tech workers, as its widespread use spans other industries, including HR, finance and accounting.
In 2024, 64% of UK CEOs said AI will need most of their workers to develop new skills within three years. AI-related job postings have jumped 61%, showing rising demand for AI knowledge. Employees who build AI skills now will stay competitive and open doors to new career opportunities.
New job titles will emerge
From AI engineers and data scientists to sustainability managers, tomorrow's job titles are evolving. Today’s graduates could hold 20 different roles throughout their careers. Students today will have portfolio careers. They will work in jobs that don’t yet exist, in new sectors, using tools unheard of in the workplace today. And that is likely to be the case if you are already embarking on your professional career.
Flexibility vs. office returns
Over the past five years, how we work has transformed, with the aftershocks of COVID-19 still shaping career trajectories. For many, the rigid structures of pre-pandemic workplaces have progressed into hybrid working options.
The hybrid-working debate continues to divide employers. Despite proven benefits, such as 84% of workers reporting higher productivity in a Zoom report, Navigating the Future of Work: Global Perspectives on Hybrid Models and Technology, many companies still push for full-time office work. Tech giants Dell, Amazon, Apple, and Google insist that remote work is over, while others embrace hybrid as a permanent model. In other sectors, companies from Salesforce and Barclays have called for blanket bans on return-to-office (RTO). The good news is that companies with return-to-office (RTO) mandates are most likely to have introduced these changes in 2024.
Skills-first hiring
Skills-based hiring (where hiring managers base decisions on how strong a candidate's skills are) is a popular recruitment strategy nowadays. In 2025, new career paths will emerge. The changing nature of work, the gap between skills, and the rise of online learning, all contribute to a skills-based approach. It evaluates candidates on merit rather than traditional qualifications. Skills-based recruitment means you’ll be assessed on your abilities and experience. So, if you have relevant skills, formal qualifications may not be as important in some industries.
Legislation changes
When the new Labour Government came into power in 2024, they announced they would introduce an Employment Bill within the first 100 days, prioritising the “New Deal for Working People” plan. The new Employment Bill strengthens your rights from day one. You can feel more confident in changing jobs. Plus, knowing that employers must have a valid reason for dismissals adds an extra layer of protection, reducing the risk of uncertainty in a new role.
Increased job movement
What does this mean for you? More professionals may switch jobs due to economic shifts, cost of living, and career progression. The journey may be uncertain, but that's where the opportunity is. The skills you need to develop this year: stay agile, curious and open to opportunities you never imagined.