Automation

Automation is likely to play a pivotal role in the future of work. From payroll and billing, to the checkout counter at the grocery store, automation is becoming ever more advanced as it is ubiquitous. Automation reduces the need for labor wherever it is implemented, and although no industry can be truly automated in its entirety, automation provides the potential for significantly increased efficiency in industry. Automation is set to disrupt nearly every industry as it increases efficiency and reduces cost (outside of the upfront cost). Though automation reduces the need for labor in the workspaces it is implemented, it will potentially create new areas of opportunities in sectors such as data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Crypto & DeFi

Fintech is playing a leading role in the development of cryptocurrencies and digital assets, as well as dApps, or decentralized apps. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum can provide alternative ways for people to exchange value and transact, while opening the door for emerging technologies like smart contracts, which will be another major disruptor in the coming years. As Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies gain legal status in countries, as is already happening in El Salvador and elsewhere, employees might be offered the option to receive the salary in cryptocurrency as opposed to fiat currency.

Gig Economy

The gig economy refers to the increasing prevalence of short term, contract based work. While bringing in a whole host of challenges, like lack of job security, upward mobility, and healthcare, gig economy platforms like AirBnb, UpWork and Uber allow individuals to offer their services and generate income on a project by project basis, rather than work as typical 9-5 or 8-6 employees, offering a good way to continue generating income when between jobs.

Work From Home

As communications technology makes leaps and bounds even beyond what it already has, work from home might become a permanent feature in many people’s professional lives. Remote work provides more freedom and flexibility to employees, as well as more hours to their day that would otherwise be spent commuting. A major challenge with remote work is that the line between work life and home is blurred, leaving remote workers with no sense of being done with their work.

Overall, the next few years are looking to be game changers in the way we engage with the economy and each other. Automation, crypto and blockchain, gig economy, and communications technology are all areas of significant potential disruption. While it’s difficult to predict exactly how these trends will unfold, it is entirely possible that the traditional work-life structure of the past century will be a thing of the past. Ideally, this will all potentially lead to more financial security, financial independence, and greater financial literacy.