Trends shaking up the job market. Are you keeping up or standing still?

These insights into these trends come from the seminar Labor Market Trends 2025-2029 by Werf&. Freshheads attended this event as a digital partner.

1. Working smarter: technology is not enough

A hard reality: productivity is barely growing, despite technological advances. A striking insight was that only 5% of a sector is responsible for almost all productivity growth. Meanwhile, companies that are not really viable are kept afloat by subsidies and other support measures.

The message? Organizations need to not only embrace technology but also critically look at how they utilize people and optimize processes. The problem does not lie in a lack of tools but in a lack of focus on effectiveness. Here, platforms can play an essential role by streamlining business processes, matching the right talents, and providing data-driven insights that ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness.

2. Most of the talent? You already have it in-house

A simple but powerful question: why do we look externally when we already have so much potential internally? There's an argument for utilizing internal talents and focusing less on diplomas. There's a plea for "quadrant thinking," where people are deployed based on their value, regardless of their job titles. A major challenge lies with hiring managers, who often think in silos, hindering internal mobility. A platform can be a solution for this by internally matching employees with new opportunities, skills, and projects. This not only increases engagement but also enhances organizational effectiveness by optimally utilizing talent.

3. Why are we searching for talent so long?

Let's not beat around the bush: we talk too much about labor market shortages and do too little. While the population is growing, we simultaneously see an outflow of staff (for example, due to aging). The advice? Think differently about positions. Focus on skills and knowledge instead of job titles and diplomas.

At Freshheads, we see this in practice with Based On Skills, a platform that connects young people and employers through skills-based matching. This platform enables companies to quickly and efficiently find the right people by focusing on the actual skills needed.

4. Finding opportunities in an unpredictable market

Concluding with an argument for a demographic revision of the labor market, which focuses not only on aging but also on the diversity of workers. Women play an increasingly significant role in the labor market, yet it is still heavily male-oriented. Organizations can benefit by better aligning work cultures and policies to women.

Labor migrants are also crucial for sectors where they are indispensable but often receive little attention. In conclusion, there are also plenty of challenges and opportunities for young people. Employers who offer flexibility and mental support can attract and retain young people longer. Conclusion: less focus on resumes and more on skills-based hiring and data-driven talent management.

What's next? Time to think differently

The labor market continues to change, requiring a fresh perspective. Whether it’s about utilizing internal talents, embracing diversity, or smartly deploying technology: sitting still is not an option. The insights from these trends make one thing clear: it's time to let go of outdated structures and focus on what truly works.

Curious about what other organizations are doing to stay ahead of these trends? Read how Actief Werkt! responds to these challenges.