Overall I agree that the psychological contract around work is changing and can logically track these shifts taking shape since the pandemic and with the rise of AI. However, I also observe a lot of professionals who are eager to work MORE because they have a lot they can and want to contribute but they aren't finding outlets - either FT or consulting - to do so. I can think of at least a dozen professionals in my network that are seeking more and steadier employment to support their economic needs. Work might be optional but money is not. What's your take on this reality, Nirit?
Curious Robin are they looking for what we used to define as standard full time employment? Or are they struggling with setting up alternative or independent work arrangements?
1. Long-time, independent consultants and even agencies seeing their client pipeline dry up. For instance, a friend has had a thriving communications strategy consulting practice at the intersection of urban planning / built environment / architecture firms and is not landing new projects.
2. Seasoned professionals looking for fulltime positions after being laid off and it taking a long time (or they just decide to retire or change careers). I can think of lots of colleagues in the user experience research, design, and product management space who have been looking for new opportunities for a year+.
3. Entry-level professionals finding it difficult to land their first role. One friend's son is searching for an accounting position now with little luck. Another, after a six month internship, was told the firm would replace him with AI but asked if he would interview candidates for his more senior-level manager position.
I am also aware of people taking part-time, non-professional roles in stores and / or applying for economic assistance to make ends meet.
Yes we're hearing this all over. Combination of say economy and work restructure. I'd take this a step further to say none of us will be doing what we did two years ago two years from now. Which doesn't conflict with the fact we will also not work the way we did in2019...
Absolutely. There are multiple factors at play and not all of them are driven by people's preferences about how they want to work. That was the point I was making and would be interested in reading more about in one of your future articles or podcast episodes.
Strong point: AI can make output cheaper without making direction cheaper. Optionality is already emerging because people are reclaiming agency, and that pushes scarcity upstream into judgment, trust, and accountability. The organizations that win will be the ones that build environments where human capability compounds, not just where automation scales.
Overall I agree that the psychological contract around work is changing and can logically track these shifts taking shape since the pandemic and with the rise of AI. However, I also observe a lot of professionals who are eager to work MORE because they have a lot they can and want to contribute but they aren't finding outlets - either FT or consulting - to do so. I can think of at least a dozen professionals in my network that are seeking more and steadier employment to support their economic needs. Work might be optional but money is not. What's your take on this reality, Nirit?
Curious Robin are they looking for what we used to define as standard full time employment? Or are they struggling with setting up alternative or independent work arrangements?
It really runs the gamut:
1. Long-time, independent consultants and even agencies seeing their client pipeline dry up. For instance, a friend has had a thriving communications strategy consulting practice at the intersection of urban planning / built environment / architecture firms and is not landing new projects.
2. Seasoned professionals looking for fulltime positions after being laid off and it taking a long time (or they just decide to retire or change careers). I can think of lots of colleagues in the user experience research, design, and product management space who have been looking for new opportunities for a year+.
3. Entry-level professionals finding it difficult to land their first role. One friend's son is searching for an accounting position now with little luck. Another, after a six month internship, was told the firm would replace him with AI but asked if he would interview candidates for his more senior-level manager position.
I am also aware of people taking part-time, non-professional roles in stores and / or applying for economic assistance to make ends meet.
Yes we're hearing this all over. Combination of say economy and work restructure. I'd take this a step further to say none of us will be doing what we did two years ago two years from now. Which doesn't conflict with the fact we will also not work the way we did in2019...
Absolutely. There are multiple factors at play and not all of them are driven by people's preferences about how they want to work. That was the point I was making and would be interested in reading more about in one of your future articles or podcast episodes.
Strong point: AI can make output cheaper without making direction cheaper. Optionality is already emerging because people are reclaiming agency, and that pushes scarcity upstream into judgment, trust, and accountability. The organizations that win will be the ones that build environments where human capability compounds, not just where automation scales.
Exactly! Thank you for co creating with me
Thanks, Nirit. I’d love to keep comparing notes as this plays out in org design and incentives.
Elon likes to shock people. But you point out that people have dominion in the agentic-AI informed modern workplace. Excellent post, Nirit.