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December 17, 2024

How disruption is transforming the Job industry in 2025

It does not matter what industry you’re in, things are changing. And the pace of change is accelerating as well.

We cannot change what is happening in the market. But we can do things we can control.

Introduction: The Era of Disruption, Lessons from Blockbuster and Netflix

There used to be video clubs in the neighborhood where you could rent VHS movies. The Blockbuster chain changed everything one day, around 1990, killing these family stores. They did not see it coming. Blockbuster seemed unstoppable, with 84,000 employees and 9,000 stores in 2004. Trying to keep up with the innovations, they went from VHS to DVD or Blue ray. Do you remember searching for a movie walking through the aisles?

That is, until 2008 when Netflix came along and took over the world. Renting media at an expensive retail store no longer made sense with no physical device required. Two years later, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy. They did not see it coming either.

There are now more than 10 players in this space taking on Netflix: Apple TV, Amazon Prime, HBO, Hulu, and others.

Who is going to mess with them now? It might not be another movie / series provider. Kids watch short videos on YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat instead of daily series. Do you think that is the norm nowadays, putting Netflix at risk?

In 2024, short-form video content will account for 90% of internet traffic (Ivideocut).
50% of viewers watch videos shorter than 90 seconds (Vidico).
By 2024, short-form video advertising in the U.S. will be worth $38.8 billion (passivesecrets)

As media consumption habits evolve from physical rentals to streaming and then short-form content, we need to adapt to technology changes and consumer preferences.

What is out there.

Disruption is not limited to entertainment; it’s reshaping every industry around us. Consider transportation: traditional taxis faced significant challenges with the rise of Uber and other ridesharing services. Similarly, micromobility options like e-scooters are changing how we navigate our cities.

We can also talk about AI, where things are just getting started.

Work landscape and the future of jobs

It is not just layoffs and personnel reductions anymore. Also, the roles are changing.

Moving to a home office model is one example. The number of people working primarily from home tripled from 9 million (5.7%) in 2019 to 27.6 million (17.9%) in 2021. As companies like Amazon, Tesla, KP Morgan, or Disney push to get back into the office, we must decide whether to move, change jobs, or make long daily trips.

But it is more than that. Think about the jobs that will be created. With automation, for example:

Globally, automation will eliminate 75 million jobs by 2022, but also create 133 million new jobs, resulting in a net gain of 58 million jobs (team stage).

Added to that, new jobs are created every year. Some examples or new jobs are:

Blockchain Developer: Creates and implements decentralized applications and smart contracts.
AI Trainer and Operator: Trains and fine-tunes AI systems to achieve desired outcomes.
Data Scientist: Analyzes and interprets complex digital data to guide business decisions.
Social Media Manager: Manages a company’s online presence and engagement across various social platforms.

Jobs are disappearing

A lot of jobs are going away because of AI and automation, including data entry specialists, manual data processors, bank tellers and data entry clerks, cashiers, and retail clerks.

Artificial intelligence is slowly replacing office receptionists and telemarketers, creating an AI transformation.

Statistics that matter.

One robot replaces approximately 1.6 workers in the manufacturing industry (Teamstage)
25% of American employment is highly susceptible to automation (resumeble)
83% of jobs with less than $20/hour will be subject to automation or replacement (Afcpe)
Between 9% and 47% of jobs are in danger of being irrelevant due to technological change (Afcpe)
Out of 40 million jobs lost during the pandemic, 32-42% will not return (ai.emory)

Automating and AI are reshaping the job market, with lower-skilled and repetitive jobs at risk. New opportunities are emerging in areas like AI development, data science, and digital transformation.

Embracing Change: What You Can Do.

We cannot change what is happening in the market. But we can do things we can control.

Adaptability is the most important thing. We are past the days when you could stay in the same company or job for more than 10 years. Do not be afraid of change, and always have a backup plan.

The second thing is to learn. Today, you must be a lifelong learner. You will stay competitive if you get new knowledge. For example, you can learn about AI. Code, work with data, or use AI tools to increase your performance and impact are all things you can learn. The same goes for digital transformation.

Third, figure out what you want to accomplish in the next couple of years. This way, you will know where to put your time, and if you have any setbacks, you’ll know what to do.

The time for action is now! As industries continue to evolve rapidly, ensuring your organization is prepared is crucial. Let Power Inside Out help you navigate these changes effectively. Call us today and let’s get started on your transformation!