What words come to mind when you think of the word employment?
Maybe you think ‘stability’ and ‘security’ because traditionally employment allows you to gain financial independence, work stability, and security for your family. You may be thinking about your current employment and maybe different words come to mind.
If you’re trying to break into the labour market now or have found that a stable and secure job is hard to come by, then know that you are not alone. This is the trend we are seeing in the workforce now.
Inkson, Dries & Arnold (2015) have written a comprehensive book called "Understanding Careers" which is a book I have utilized greatly in my work as a Career Counsellor. The authors talk about how a career is increasingly being viewed as “a series of psychological contracts between employer and employee” (Inkson et al., 2015, p.43). The key word here is ‘contracts.’ These contracts used to be very relational and were formed with the understanding of a solid long-term relationship with the expectation of mutual respect and loyalty. A relational contract is great because it allows for that strong relationship to be built on the basis of clear value, respect, commitment, and loyalty. Now, there is a shift to these contracts becoming transactional not relational. These work contracts are being treated as a short-term exchange of benefits – similar to a simple transaction.
So, what does this change mean for those in the labour force?
Firstly, Inkson et al. (2015) refer to individuals experiencing their careers and taking action in their careers as career actors. So, this means that career actors are having ‘boundaryless careers.’ Traditional boundaries are obsolete and now career actors are always in motion. They are moving between organizations with increased frequency and these moves are becoming more commonplace.
With the exponential growth of non-permanent and less stable types of employment such as contract work, part-time work, temporary work, service work, and self-employment, these changes are not surprising.
And what is the result of these non-permanent forms of employment?
Career actors need to change the type of career they are developing for themselves. Workers need to develop what we call ‘portfolio careers.’ Instead of choosing to pursue one single full-time position, they now need to balance a complete portfolio of different, dynamic, and changing opportunities.
The overall meaning of this changing nature of the labour market is that for many career actors, they have moved from employment to employability.
In a competitive labour force where we are seeing an increased amount of educated and qualified candidates, we must do everything we can to continue growing and expanding our portfolio. The more skills you can develop, certifications you can gain, training seminars you can participate in, and connections you can make, the better. Always be thinking about how you can better market yourself and how you can get yourself out there. It is necessary to always do your best to stay at the top of your game in such a dynamic and changing labour market.
I know that sounds like a lot – to always be thinking ahead, staying in motion, and thinking about self-marketing. It can be exhausting and draining and sometimes discouraging - but there is hope and there is opportunity in the obstacle. Not only is Sand to Pearl Coaching equipped to help you with your career needs in an ever-changing labour market, but we also incorporate self-care into every customized coaching plan. Self-care is more important now than ever and it truly is important to take the time for yourself in addition to having the tools and knowledge to succeed in the labour force. If you need any support, guidance, or motivation on your career journey, don’t hesitate to reach out today!
Wishing you strength and success in your career,
Sabrina
References
Inkson, K., Dries, N., & Arnold, J. (2015). Understanding careers. SAGE Publications Ltd.
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