Where the job market is heading in 2025: 7 trends to anticipate
Where the job market is heading in 2025: 7 trends to anticipate
Where the job market is heading in 2025: 7 trends to anticipate


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·The state of work in 2024 was marked by significant change: Return-to-office dominated headlines (but so did an embrace of hybrid and fully remote workplaces).1,2,3 The rise of Generative AI tools began disrupting roles across industries.4
Many wonder what the workplace will look like in 2025. From Millennial leadership in the C-suite to the pressing need for “upskilling” talent, the way people work is rapidly changing.5,6 There are several key trends that will shape the workforce of the future, and understanding these shifts is essential for workers looking to thrive in the evolving job market.
1. Millennial leadership in the C-suite
Millennial leadership will begin to transform the C-suite. Millennials are known for their comfort with technology, their focus on work-life balance, and their desire for a more flexible, inclusive work culture. As they rise into leadership positions, they are likely to implement policies that cater to these values.
Only one in ten Americans want to reach the C-suite, according to Empower research on the changing face of senior leadership. Millennials, however, appear to be most eager to get to the corner office, with 39% wanting to make it to the boardroom.
Take, for example, some of the first major Millennial CEOs: Damola Adamolekun, Red Lobster CEO, is 35 years old and tasked with turning around the chain as it exits bankruptcy.7
Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor, aged 35, is overseeing the platform’s first major changes in 15 years.8 Instacart CEO Fidji Simo is 39, and is in charge of the company’s post-IPO future.9
2. The rise of salary transparency
Salary transparency may become more common in many industries this year. This shift would be driven by workers’ pursuit of pay parity and the desire for companies to demonstrate their commitment to equity.10 According to Empower research, 67% of employees tie earning more money to job satisfaction. Those who are better paid may be more likely to stay at companies that are transparent about compensation.
Expect to see more pay transparency in 2025 — and more companies leading the charge.
3. Remote work continues to dominate
Remote work, which took off during the pandemic, is here to stay. In fact, many companies have now accepted remote work as a permanent part of their operating model.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports that 82% of executives intend to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time, with 35% of job postings in 2024 being fully remote positions.11,12
An increasing number of companies use remote work to tap into a wider talent pool. As organizations become more flexible in their work arrangements, employees may enjoy better work-life balance and more control over their schedules.
4. Upskilling for the AI revolution
In 2025, it’s expected that artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace jobs. Rather, they will augment human capabilities. Many companies will focus on reskilling and upskilling their employees to ensure they can work alongside AI tools effectively.13 From customer service roles enhanced by chatbots to AI-assisted decision-making in leadership, workers will need to adapt to new technology.14
Many companies already recognize the dual need to incorporate AI where it’s useful while also upskilling employees to learn new AI-related skills. AI will become an essential part of business operations, and workers will level up to use these tools as an assistant for their daily tasks and more.15
5. New benefits to address needs
The traditional benefits packages offered by employers will look vastly different by the end of this year. Although findings from Empower research demonstrate how the importance of conventional benefits, such as healthcare (70%) and dental care (53%), other perks, such as retirement advice (24%) and tuition assistance (11%), are growing in popularity.
Companies increasingly offer benefits that cater to these and other needs of their modern workforce. Take student loan assistance, for example: The SECURE Act 2.0 permits employers to offer matching retirement contributions to help employees offset student loan payments.
Many benefits packages now emphasize mental health, flexible working arrangements, and other perks that focus on employees' well-being.16
Read more: Smart strategies for managing student loan debt in retirement
6. Employee wellness takes center stage
Employers are likely going to focus on employee wellness, both as a benefit but also as a cultural cornerstone. Companies are seeking unique ways to keep their employees, which means they could invest more in programs that address holistic needs.
Nearly three quarters (72%) of employers plan to enhance their mental health offerings, with more resources being devoted to employee assistance programs and digital tools to help employees manage stress.17 As burnout can be a challenge, these efforts will be essential in every healthy, engaged workforce.
7. Tight competition for new graduates
The job market cooled across age groups in 2024, and despite rebounds for other demographics, the dip has largely remained for entry-level workers.18 The unemployment rate for recent graduates hit a high of 5.3% — the highest it's been in three years.19
Newcomers to the working world can still get ahead in a competitive hiring market. To start, look backwards: Alumni associations can help make introductions between new graduates and those who are more established in their careers. Empower data indicates that 40% of Millennials have relied on their personal network to get their current job.
Embracing the future of work in 2025
The 2025 workplace could be defined by flexibility, innovation, and inclusivity. For workers, this may mean more opportunities to work remotely, more transparency in pay, and additional control over their careers.
Workers may want to prepare themselves by learning more about AI's role in their industry, what flexible work they may want in their current (or future) job, and how changes in compensation structures can help them get the most value from their work. For companies, this could transform how they operate.
Get financially happy.
Put your money to work for life and play.
1 MIT Sloan Management Review, “Return-to-Office Mandates: How to Lose Your Best Performers,” November 2024
2 Gallup, “The Future of the Office Has Arrived: It's Hybrid,” October 2023
3 Forbes, “The Year In Remote Work—2024’s Biggest Shifts,” November 2024
4 MIT Sloan, “How generative AI affects highly skilled workers,” November 2024
5 CEO Magazine, “How Millennial leaders are changing the business world for the better,” July 2023
6 Forbes, “The Rise Of Upskilling And Continuous Learning In A Slow Labor Market,” September 2024
7 CNN Business, “Red Lobster files for bankruptcy,” May 2024
8 Entrepreneur, “'Creators Left So Much Money on the Table': Kickstarter's CEO Reveal8 the Story Behind the Company's Biggest Changes in 15 Years,” May 2024
9 Financial Times, “Instacart IPO is latest stop on Fidji Simo’s Silicon Valley ascent,” September 2023
10 WTW, “How to meet pay transparency demands and advance fair pay,” September 2023
11 SHRM, “What Will the Workplace Look Like in 2025?”
12 Robert Half, “Remote Work Statistics and Trends for 2024,” November 2024
13 IBM, “Upskilling and reskilling for talent transformation in the era of AI,” Accessed January 2025
14 Harvard Business Review, “6 Ways AI Changed Business in 2024, According to Executives,” January 2025
15 Washington Post, “I used AI work tools to do my job. Here’s how it went.,” February 2024
16 Employee Benefit News, Klipfel, Marcy, “In 2024, employees see flexible work as a mental health benefit,” October 2024
17 SHRM, “What Will the Workplace Look Like in 2025?”
18 CNN, “The final jobs report for 2024 lands Friday. Here’s what 2025 could mean for your job,” January 2025
19 Business Insider, “Gen Z college grads are bearing the brunt of today's tricky job market,” September 2024
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