The workplace then and now: How work has changed and what that means for the future

It's no secret that the workplace has drastically changed since the mid-20th century. Women are now a significant part of the workforce, and advancements in technology have provided job flexibility and freedom as we've never seen before. Over the last few decades, getting a professional degree was considered the only way to have a well-paying job. Now we're seeing a migration to a skills-based workforce, making it easier for people to discover jobs they absolutely love to perform.

At CareerBuilder, we've partnered with The Harris Poll to find out how hiring managers and employees are tackling this wild new world of work. We gathered first-person intel on everything from wages and benefits to hiring practices and the gig economy. Let's take a look at how work has changed over the past several decades and how it may evolve in the future. 

The workplace then

The 1940s saw a radical change in the workforce with a rise in working women who left the home to fill in while men were off fighting in the war. They liked having a career in the modern workplace, and many found jobs as secretaries, nurses, and stewardesses. For men, jobs were mainly industrial or agricultural, including blue-collar jobs as mechanics and bus drivers, while others worked as managers and executives.

The Information Age was just around the corner when the 1960s and 1970s arrived. The workforce was rapidly growing, and an economic transition was taking place due to the introduction of automation. In the 1980s, business communication was still taking place via landlines and personal meetings, but email and word processing programs were slowly being introduced.

The Internet made its entrance in the 1990s and 2000s. Manufacturing jobs began to decline and a shift began that focused on building professional skills rather than relying on formal education. As the 2010s approached, job creation was booming and unemployment was decreasing. This gave way to what we're now experiencing with individuals being able to start a business with limited resources, work remotely with modern technical advances, and collaborate with people all over the world.

There have been many other changes over the last few decades that have significantly influenced how work has changed, such as:

• A decline in industries such as coal mining, telephone operators, farming, and construction
• Worker strikes as a result of poor working conditions, labor disputes, and rising unemployment 
• Jobs shifting from farming and manufacturing to positions created in the technology sector
• Technology innovations on the rise that enabled automation and e-commerce capabilities

"Technology is part of the solution, but it can't undermine the role people play in the process."

The workplace now

There are many differences in how work has changed from the past until now. The COVID-19 pandemic made employees fearful of their future and pushed them into uncontrollable circumstances. Millions lost their jobs and are still trying to dig out from under heavy financial burdens. On the positive side, there's a greater focus on providing a workplace atmosphere of well-being and comfort, utilizing new tools and technology to work remotely, and collaborating via social media, smartphones, and online file sharing.

There are several other significant developments that have changed the current workplace environment:

• COVID-19 has given workers the leverage they need to expect better incentives, higher wages, and enhanced benefits.
• Employees are asking for more flex time, paid leave for parents and caretakers, and in-house training.
• Organizations are expected to raise their minimum wage rate in order to hire skilled workers.

The workplace in the future

Almost everyone agrees on two things. First, your skills matter more than the job titles you've held in the past, and second, since skills are so important, we need more opportunities for learning them.

COVID-19 rocked industries and fractured neat, linear career tracks into zigzags, with people using their transferable skills to switch jobs or even fields. It doesn't matter as much where you used to work, but more so what you can now do. With this in mind, don't hold back when expanding on your skills during your job interview, and don't be afraid to apply for jobs for which you may need specialized training.

Side hustles, freelancers, and work-from-home gigs will be the norm rather than the exception. Many employees are currently relying on side jobs and work-from-home ventures to supplement their income, especially if they find themselves with a household income below $50,000 or working at a blue-collar job.

What we've learned about the evolution of work from speaking to thousands of hiring managers as well as employees and workers can be summed up into three key points.

• Both employers and employees are hungry for more training and professional development.
• Engaging with each employee on a personal level and accommodating their needs is essential.
• Technology is part of the solution, but it can't undermine the role people play in the process.

We encourage you to not only read the latest information about employment and the workplace but also take steps to move your own career forward. Upload a resume to Career Builder today and begin applying to jobs in minutes.

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