16 Jun The types of employees in the face of changes in the labor market

The labor market has changed, not only because of the increasing use of technology as the future in the workplace advances, but also because of the way people face new challenges and the convergence of other generations in the workplace.

According to research by the consulting company Bain & Company, there are at least 10 dimensions that define the personality of a collaborator:

1. Centrality at work: How much I identify myself and what is the point of my job.
2. Financial orientation: How my income level impacts my happiness.
3. Future orientation: I prefer to invest in a better future or focus on the present.
4. Status: To what extent I am concerned that peers will consider me successful.
5. Risk tolerance: I take risks to improve my life or not.
6. Variety: I prefer change or stability.
7. Autonomy: How much I value being in control of my own work.
8. Collaboration: I perceive work as an individual or team effort.
9. Training: How much satisfaction I find in the improvement of my work.
10. Self-transcendence: How important it is to make a positive difference in society.

Each archetype of workers has a different attitude, and this means that as the future of work strengthens and jobs become more specialized, everyone’s interests change and there is no single formula, as each employee has a different need.  Therefore, according to the study, in the current market there are at least six most outstanding archetypes, which are the following:

Operators

Operators generally find satisfaction and motivation outside of their jobs, as they see it as a means to an end.  They are not interested in excelling, nor in the status or autonomy that work can give them, since they place stability as a priority. At the same time, operators are more team-oriented and often regard many of their co-workers as friends. At best, it’s the team’s players who will form the backbone of the organization, but they can also be lethargic and inactive.

Donors

Donors find value in those jobs that directly improve the lives of others, so they are the least interested in the monetary factor.  They are usually engaged in the areas of medicine and teaching, but they also excel in other areas where they interact directly with other people and help them.  They are passionate about working as a team and creating a good work environment, they are planners, but they have doubts when presented with new opportunities. At their best, they are those who build trust and motivation in a company, but at their worst they can be naïve and impractical.

Craftsmen

These types of workers are always looking for something that excites and motivates them day by day. They like to train constantly and be valued for the trajectory and experience they have.  Of all the personalities of workers, they are usually the least interested in making friends at work, since they care a lot about having a high degree of autonomy for their activities. At their best they may be able to face any type of challenge regardless of the level of difficulty; however, in the worst case they are distant and leave aside the objectives.

Explorers

These people place more importance on freedom and experiences, so they tend to prefer careers that give them diversity and emotions. They are workers who prefer flexibility over safety, which is why they explore different work options throughout their lives. At their best, they are the most enthusiastic about assigning them any kind of task, but at their worst they have no direction and lack conviction.

Fighters

Fighters are people who like to achieve success on their own, so they give a lot of meaning to status and compensation.  They are experienced planners, as they choose the least expected paths to professional success. These types of workers tend to be more competitive and oriented to their long-term goals. At their best, they are quite disciplined; however, its high level of competitiveness can destroy trust and camaraderie within a company.

Pioneers

Pioneers have a mission to change the world, so they are the most risk-tolerant and future-oriented.  They are people who are willing to make great sacrifices just to achieve their goal. Although they are altruistic people, the vision they propose is definitely individual. At their best, they spread their energy to the rest, which allows them to achieve real change; but at worst they are intransigent and imperious.

After knowing in more detail each of the main archetypes, it can be said that they all contribute to a company being successful, efficient and stable in the long term.  Also, although the same person may fit into many archetypes, the tendency toward personality can change throughout life due to certain events and environments, including the workplace.

Conclusion

It is essential that all companies take into account the different personalities that exist in the labor market, since this will help to be able to empathize and understand in greater depth the objectives of the employees and this guide them to those of the company, so that both meet their future goals and at the same time there is a correct work environment.

References

El Economista. (2022). Futuro del trabajo: 6 tipos de empleados frente a los cambios del mundo laboral. Extracted from https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/capitalhumano/Futuro-del-trabajo-6-tipos-de-empleados-frente-a-los-cambios-del-mundo-laboral-20220606-0086.html [Consulted: June 14, 2022]