87% of the professionals around the world currently consider their mental health as a concern in their work lives. This is the view of the report Professionals of the future, elaborated by the consultancy company NTT DATA. The information has been compiled through a survey to 3.249 professionals and interviews with 34 executives from big companies, as well as specialists in cultural and behavioral organization from 10 different countries. The objective of the report is to portrait the worker profile for the following five years, considering different foreseen scenarios. Also, it analyzes the skills demanded and tries to understand the professionals’ feelings for the future of work and their concerns for the labor market.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a turning point, affecting severely in the business world. It has also influenced especially in the employees ’vision towards their company when it comes to wellness. Today the care of mental health is more visible than ever, and it is considered as one of the most relevant factors to people's wellbeing, including the related to the work environment. Thus, 44% of the professionals of different countries state to feel highly concerned with work-mental health balance, while 43% show some concern about the topic.
Moreover, always according to the NTT DATA report, the professional of the future, in addition to betting on mental health care, must be emotionally balanced, with self-control and resilience (65%); communicative and collaborative (43.9%) and an eternal learner (51.9%), in continuous search of his personal and professional development from him. Must be an innovative person, looking for new ways to achieve results (84%); flexible to understand others and transform, when necessary, as well as the ability to adapt to the world and society (50.2%). In addition, it must be focused on results, be critical and analytical (71%), and, in an increasingly digitized world like the current one, with a clear mastery of technology (70%).
Technology and generational conflict
This last aspect also has a negative side, as 41% of those surveyed fear that technology could replace people in some functions. However, concern about generational conflict is greater, with 48% of professionals questioning whether the experience gained over the years will be less valued by youth. Very in tune are the concern to stay professionally updated in the face of constant changes and the certainty of securing a position in the labor market in the next five years, both with 47%.
According to the NTT DATA study, leaders must have good communication skills with their team (54%), be able to work as a team, side by side with their staff (40.3%), and have the sensitivity to identify to those people who are not going through a good mental or emotional moment and, above all, knowing how to face this situation (38.6%).
Regarding companies, 80.7% of professionals expect the companies they work for to understand and respect their personal life so that they can have time to dedicate to their family, friends, and hobbies. This aspect is highly relevant, especially in sectors where the recruitment and retention of talent are becoming a serious problem, as is currently the case in some fields of Information Technology (ICT). In addition, almost 45% of those surveyed expect their companies to offer flexible benefits such as health insurance, food, transportation, life insurance, or childcare, among others. In contrast, just over 65% of those surveyed expect companies to invest in their education and development in five years.
Donwload the full study here: https://www.insightsforthefuture.com/professionals-of-the-future