Cross-functional team support, personalization, compliance agility, data-informed decision making and adaptable technology are among leading trends driving the workforce.



"The world of work has reached an inflection point, punctuated by a tight labor market and stabilizing wage growth," said Don Weinstein, corporate vice president, global product and technology at ADP. "Amidst this landscape, we are seeing a business-critical convergence of technology and data in the workplace. In 2020, companies will look to leverage customizable tech solutions that meet the needs of their organization, their teams, and their workers to provide a more engaging and productive work environment."

Trends Impacting and Informing the Workforce in 2020:

HCM trends for 2020

  1. A team-based approach will change how work gets done.

Organizations of all sizes need to break down siloes to unlock potential and create a culture of connectivity predicated on engagement and performance. Even though work is often done on teams, HCM solutions to-date have not been architected in a way that supports dynamic teamwork. Expect that to change.


  1. Personalization will become paramount.

Employers and workers alike will demand app-driven, consumer-grade HCM experiences – not monolithic software that is difficult to implement. Technology platforms will need to adapt to offer flexible options that companies, teams and even individual workers can configure. The worker experience will evolve through a confluence of emerging technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The evolution of natural language processing and more conversational chat "bots" will help reduce time to complete tasks and aid in promoting user adoption and system utilization for individual needs.


With the rise of new fintech solutions for consumers, workers have grown more discerning about how and when they get paid. As a result, the pay experience will reach a new level of personalization, offering an easier way for workers to be paid, the way they want, anytime they want. Forward-thinking workplace perks, such as personalized, employer-driven financial wellness offerings will help workers manage their pay, savings and improve their financial well-being.

  1. Compliance complexity will grow.


  1. Data scientists and business owners will adopt a shared mindset.

Organizations today crave information that can help them make informed decisions about their people. The talent war will be fought and won on the ability to unlock and apply actionable insights derived from reliable, decision-quality data. Companies, people and teams will benefit from timely, data-driven insights that power decisions. Predictive analytics will be table stakes for any successful business in 2020, providing critical workforce insights such as overtime spikes, excessive turnover, labor costs and pay equity. AI, machine learning, serverless computing, 5G connectivity – these macro trends drive innovation as businesses strive to optimize experiences for workers and clients.


  1. Today's evolving workforce will require adaptable technology.



In addition to broad-based trends in the workforce, ADP has also identified several vertical-specific trends impacting the gig economy, accounting industry, franchise industry, benefits and brokers, etc. We'll be sharing those stories in the coming weeks, so bookmark this page!

To dive deeper on the trends listed in this article, click here.

Tags: Workforce Analytics Trends and Innovation HR Administration and Outsourcing Compensation and Benefits Risk and Compliance Small Business Recruiting and Hiring Multinational People Management and Growth Midsize Business Payroll Administration Large Business

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