New sectors to produce tomorrow

Pandemic, decarbonisation and de-globalisation are three major changes that will profoundly affect the labour market in the years to come.

First, the pandemic has brutally changed the relationship to work. For millions of people, the very idea of being assigned to a job has suddenly been called into question. Second, decarbonisation is changing the dynamics of sectors. Some will be profoundly transformed by this shock, others will be seriously shaken up. Third, de-globalisation will gradually change the employment outlook – although we do not yet know which jobs will be affected and at what pace.

These three changes will transform the labour market. Companies that saw themselves as organisers of a globalisation imposed on employees will have to adapt to it. The trade unions, which saw themselves as the defenders of a world doomed to disappear, will have to respond. It will not be a more employee-friendly market. On the contrary, they will have to adapt to in-depth transformations that will call into question their gains. 

These accelerated changes will transform the role of human resources policies. Work will become a scarce commodity.