Business leaders and professionals agree – work is changing. Here’s how.

Work is changing quickly: From where people work and how they work, to new jobs being created and the skills required for many roles. With our real time data at LinkedIn, we’ve taken a closer look at some of these changes through our inaugural Work Change Snapshot.

This pace of change at work is on everyone’s mind. In fact, 70% of global executives agree that things are moving faster than ever. And it’s not just leadership feeling the strain; nearly two-thirds of professionals worldwide are feeling overwhelmed by how quickly work is evolving, and saying they need more support than ever before to keep up.

Now, as we’re seeing the pendulum swing back towards the center in an increasingly complex labor market, employers hold a lot of the cards. From remote work whiplash to BYOAI (Bring Your Own AI), a lot has changed for professionals. 

Flexible work is in flux, particularly as companies continue to evolve their return to office (RTO) mandates. A quarter of professionals say one of their current biggest challenges is proving they can successfully work remotely. Even though flexible work has the potential to lead to employees feeling the need to overcompensate to prove they are working hard, this type of work remains highly desirable. However, opportunities for remote and hybrid roles have decreased as employers lean more into on-site work.

Adoption of new technologies, particularly generative AI, are top of mind for many workers as they look to integrate it into their roles. And while business leaders across industries are intrigued by the productivity promise of AI, many are struggling to implement it at scale. Our data suggests that over the next few years, the skills required for most jobs will change significantly, with AI speeding up this transformation.

Consider this: roles like data scientist, social media manager, and sustainability manager didn’t exist 20+ years ago.

The change happening at work is challenging for both executives and professionals as it’s forcing everyone to rethink how they operate. While the pace of change can feel overwhelming, it also presents opportunities for those who lean in and build new skills. Here’s some of the biggest shifts we’ve been seeing: