Note to Generation X workers: the workplace is always changing
Analysis: Historical analysis provides a harsh truth that people who bank on the world of work never changing are likely to lose out
The world of work is always changing and rarely for the better. The career woes of Generation X workers, those born between 1965 and 1980, have been widely discussed, and there are some genuinely worrying trends.
A recent New York Times article channels R.E.M to start with the ominous claim that "it's the end of work as we knew it". This article details how whole industries, especially those involving creativity such as magazine publishing, writing for TV and movies and graphic design, are in free fall. Rapid developments in technology, especially artificial intelligence are swiftly making once lucrative jobs obsolete. As a result, many Gen X workers who invested in building careers in these fields are finding it impossible to make a living.
From RTÉ Brainstorm, why do we work?
There have been numerous such news stories, opinion pieces and reports dealing with the changing nature of work over the last 25 to 30 years. Some deal with the role of technology, others with where we work, especially the swift rise and the apparently swift decline in remote work as the pandemic waxed and waned. There are also pieces which cover who we work for (the rise of the gig economy) and changes in workforce personnel (such as the increasing presence of women, immigrants and older workers in many workplaces).
As an organisational psychologist, I have been reading books about the changing nature of work since the 1990s. The theme of all these books, articles and reports is that things are not the same as they used to be and that workplace, careers, co-workers and the like are often worse than they used to be.
The complaint that things are not the same as they used to be, and usually worse than they once were, has a long pedigree. The sentiment that "Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book" has been attributed variously to Cicero, Socrates and ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform fragments.
From RTÉ Radio 1's Brendan O'Connor Show, what is the workplace like for Gen Z?
While its exact provenance is very much in doubt, there is no doubt that the idea that things are not the same and not as good as they used to has been with us for a very long time. The idea that the world of work is rapidly changing (usually for the worse) is part of a much longer set of complaints about how the world is getting worse each day, but much of what has been written about the changing nature of work in the last 30 years assumes that this is a recent change. It isn't.
In a chapter written with Warren Tierney in The Cambridge Handbook of the Changing Nature of Work, I have argued that the belief that the world of work is changing is in large part the result of making the wrong comparisons. Particularly in the US, the period from 1945 to 1980 represented an unusual period of growth and stability when it was possible for a single breadwinner to develop a career that would support him (at this time, breadwinners were almost always male) and his family in relative comfort, often working for the same company for decades.
This deeply unusual time led many people to expect that a steady career in the same field, and often in the same company, was the norm and that the workplace would not change in meaningful ways. But if you take a longer perspective, massive changes in the world of work have been common and often jolting. Two examples stand out as particularly important and illustrative. First, the proportion of the workforce engaged in agriculture has changed massively over the last 75 years and has undergone almost a complete transformation over the last 150 years.
From FutureNow, the truth about Generation X
Across the world, there has been a decisive shift from an economy where most families worked on a small farm to economies where industry and or knowledge work have become the dominant form of work. The change from agricultural economies to industrial economies changed where people lived, who they interacted with and when and how they worked - and these changes dwarf the changes we are witnessing in the current economy.
Much of what has been written in the last 30 years about the changing world of work has focused on the role of technology, and the implication is that we are going through an unprecedented technological revolution. Technology is changing, but we have gone much through bigger technological revolutions in the past, particularly the introduction of the automobile.
In 1900, there were over 20 million horses in the United States. The business or raising horses, feeding and stabling them and cleaning up after them (many of the beautiful brownstone houses in New York City are set six to eight feet above the street in part because the streets were often filled with horse manure at the time they were built,) represented a major part of the economy. The woes faced by Gen X workers in creative fields are nothing compared to the problems of saddle makers, blacksmiths or those involved in the manufacture of horse-drawn vehicles in the US in the early 1900s.
From TED, social psychologist Leah Georges on how generational stereotypes hold us back at work
The world of work is changing, and often in scary and unpredictable ways, but this is the historical norm, not the exception. We have been lulled into a nostalgia for that deeply unusual period in the 1950s to 1970s when the world of work seemed stable and predictable.
This historical analysis may be cold comfort to Gen X workers who careers are collapsing, but it is a harsh truth that people who bank on the world of work never changing are likely to lose out. The best you can do is continue to build skills that are valuable and transferable and to realise that other generations have successfully weathered these changes.
In 1900, prospects looked grim for saddle makers and horse feed lots, but most of the people engaged in these businesses moved on and adapted to the new world of automobiles. The current cry that AI will change everything is just a variation on the cry over the years that other technologies will change everything, and it is probably only partially true. More than 2,500 years ago, a Greek philosopher reminded us that the only constant is change. The world of work is changing, just like it always has.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Global Economic Summit ends in Kerry with finale featuring Game of Thrones actor
The three-day conference, which saw world leaders descend upon Killarney's Europe Hotel for a second year, saw the likes of a New York Times journalist and an award-winning actor speak about some of the most pressing issues today. The day kicked off with a talk on crisis proof leadership from Dr Maria Guevera, who is the international medical secretary for Medicins Sans Frontiers. Later, New York Times enterprise investigations director, Limerick's Malachy Browne, took centre stage at 'Broken Signals', covering journalism, democracy and 'the war over truth'. It proved one of the highlights of the final day and he spoke too on how visual and digital evidence is used in accountability investigations. Talks were also held on Irish-led healthcare innovations driving impact worldwide and looking beyond Brexit before a conversation was held with actor Liam Cunningham, perhaps best known for playing Davos Seaworth in Game of Thrones. Liam spoke on his time on world-famous sets and even with director Stephen Spielberg while he also explained the role of his Game of Throne character: 'The guys realised there was so much sinister stuff... they needed a representative of the audience; a moral compass who needed to ask questions for the audience.' He spoke with CEO of IFTA, Killorglin native Aine Moriarty and referred also to his humanitarian work in Africa through World Vision. The discussion provided the conclusion to three days which saw Kerry welcome a total of 400 international business leaders, policymakers and politicians for the Summit, which was opened on Monday by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The Taoiseach spoke about how the conference brought together leaders and thinkers to discuss pressing issues of our time, such as economic and trade challenges, tackling climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence and its implications. 'The breadth and depth of expertise gathered here is immense and can provide real insight into these issues. Events such as the Global Economic Summit, bringing together diverse expertise for reflection and debate, are all the more important in today's world,' the Taoiseach said. The opening day of the conference saw EU Commissioner for Democracy, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, speak about preparing for all scenarios in EU-US tariff talks. 'In the event of the talks ending unsuccessfully and EU businesses being subjected to unjustified tariffs, then the European Union will respond to defend the interest of the European economy. But our absolute focus for now is on making these talks a success in the next six weeks,' Mr McGrath said. Former commissioner of the US Social Security Administration, Martin O'Malley, provided participants with insights into Irish and American relations. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, joined Miriam O'Callaghan for a fireside chat. Mr Mulvaney revealed that he landed the chief of staff job after he had sought the role of special envoy to Northern Ireland. He said he does not think the world needs to fear a third Trump presidential term. 'I know that Trump oftentimes likes to say things in order to sort of just provoke the left. But I think he put that to bed on a Sunday talk show a couple weeks back. I think that, of all the things you might want to worry about, you can probably take that one off your list,' Mr Mulvaney said. Sisters Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise Murphy, winners of the BT Young Scientist Award, provided a local feel to the day when they participated in a mentorship session with Dr Maria Guevara. Artificial intelligence and infrastructure were top of the agenda on Tuesday, the second day of GES2025. Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Jack Chambers, told of how he plans to 'unblock and unlock' infrastructure delivery in Ireland. Minister Chambers said he agreed with comments that the public service is too averse to taking risks and there needs to a greater risk appetite if mega-projects are to be delivered. 'We need to re-examine the level over the project life cycle, how we can better mitigate the risk in how we do the design process and how we support public servants in really accelerating the delivery of projects through the through the overall life cycle,' Minister Chambers said. Maurice Regan, owner of leading construction company JT Magen, spoke about how good leadership is achieved through responsibility. Audrey O'Mahony, who is head of talent and organisation at Accenture, explained how her company has helped over 2,500 clients to implement Gen AI into their businesses. Dingle-based supply chain digitalisation company, Net Feasa, held the official European launch ceremony of its Agentic Control Tower™ platform. The platform, which is the first of its kind, uses the power of AI to visualise container fleets as they move goods around the globe and automate traditional logistical workflows such as booking and scheduling. A special fringe event titled 'Taste of Kerry' was held at Kate Kearney's Cottage at the end of the day. It provided delegates with an experience showcasing the county's rich cultural heritage and creativity. At the event, internationally acclaimed fashion designer Don O'Neill captivated guests with stories of how Kerry's landscapes shaped his creative journey from Ballyheigue to the global fashion capitals.
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Sligo software firm celebrating 20 years working with healthcare practices
The anniversary brought together Socrates' Sligo-based team members to reflect on their 20-year history of innovation and pioneering new ways of advancing digital healthcare. Part of healthcare technology group Clanwilliam, Socrates was founded in Sligo in 2004 with the aim of streamlining the daily operations of healthcare practices. Socrates has grown into a trusted name in practice management, with the team providing exceptional customer service and support to healthcare professionals across Ireland. Since its early days, the team behind Socrates has been dedicated to developing intuitive, reliable systems which assist General Practitioners and other healthcare professionals in managing their daily operations. Over the past 20 years, the Socrates team has built lasting relationships with customers, taking the time to listen, understand and provide solutions to customer problems. In 2024, the Socrates team handled over 31,500 calls and over 12,000 emails from customers in Ireland, reflecting a very successful year in meeting the evolving needs of healthcare professionals across the country. Speaking about Socrates and the Sligo team's contribution to practice management over the past 20 years, David Spellman, Socrates Customer Support Manager, said: 'The focus of our team in Sligo continues to be on the delivery of innovative, easy-to-use systems which improve efficiencies in healthcare practices and enhance patient care. "Our support team in Sligo is instrumental in helping practices make the most of our software and the team ensures that every practice is equipped to optimise the Socrates system, boost productivity and increase patient satisfaction.' With all software development experts and customer service agents operating from Sligo, Socrates is committed to and proud of its local roots. Socrates has developed strong links to local educational institutes, including ATU Sligo, and has built a team of over 30 skilled employees, with the team collectively reaching over 100 years of service. Acknowledging Socrates' milestone, Eileen Byrne, Managing Director of Clanwilliam Ireland said: 'From appointments and patient records to billing and regulatory compliance, Socrates has enabled solutions which ultimately lead to improved care of patients. Above all, the Socrates team based in Sligo has provided exceptional service to customers and helped transform how healthcare practitioners handle everyday tasks. Our team in Sligo has laid strong foundations for future innovation in the practice management space.'
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Note to Generation X workers: the workplace is always changing
Analysis: Historical analysis provides a harsh truth that people who bank on the world of work never changing are likely to lose out The world of work is always changing and rarely for the better. The career woes of Generation X workers, those born between 1965 and 1980, have been widely discussed, and there are some genuinely worrying trends. A recent New York Times article channels R.E.M to start with the ominous claim that "it's the end of work as we knew it". This article details how whole industries, especially those involving creativity such as magazine publishing, writing for TV and movies and graphic design, are in free fall. Rapid developments in technology, especially artificial intelligence are swiftly making once lucrative jobs obsolete. As a result, many Gen X workers who invested in building careers in these fields are finding it impossible to make a living. From RTÉ Brainstorm, why do we work? There have been numerous such news stories, opinion pieces and reports dealing with the changing nature of work over the last 25 to 30 years. Some deal with the role of technology, others with where we work, especially the swift rise and the apparently swift decline in remote work as the pandemic waxed and waned. There are also pieces which cover who we work for (the rise of the gig economy) and changes in workforce personnel (such as the increasing presence of women, immigrants and older workers in many workplaces). As an organisational psychologist, I have been reading books about the changing nature of work since the 1990s. The theme of all these books, articles and reports is that things are not the same as they used to be and that workplace, careers, co-workers and the like are often worse than they used to be. The complaint that things are not the same as they used to be, and usually worse than they once were, has a long pedigree. The sentiment that "Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book" has been attributed variously to Cicero, Socrates and ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform fragments. From RTÉ Radio 1's Brendan O'Connor Show, what is the workplace like for Gen Z? While its exact provenance is very much in doubt, there is no doubt that the idea that things are not the same and not as good as they used to has been with us for a very long time. The idea that the world of work is rapidly changing (usually for the worse) is part of a much longer set of complaints about how the world is getting worse each day, but much of what has been written about the changing nature of work in the last 30 years assumes that this is a recent change. It isn't. In a chapter written with Warren Tierney in The Cambridge Handbook of the Changing Nature of Work, I have argued that the belief that the world of work is changing is in large part the result of making the wrong comparisons. Particularly in the US, the period from 1945 to 1980 represented an unusual period of growth and stability when it was possible for a single breadwinner to develop a career that would support him (at this time, breadwinners were almost always male) and his family in relative comfort, often working for the same company for decades. This deeply unusual time led many people to expect that a steady career in the same field, and often in the same company, was the norm and that the workplace would not change in meaningful ways. But if you take a longer perspective, massive changes in the world of work have been common and often jolting. Two examples stand out as particularly important and illustrative. First, the proportion of the workforce engaged in agriculture has changed massively over the last 75 years and has undergone almost a complete transformation over the last 150 years. From FutureNow, the truth about Generation X Across the world, there has been a decisive shift from an economy where most families worked on a small farm to economies where industry and or knowledge work have become the dominant form of work. The change from agricultural economies to industrial economies changed where people lived, who they interacted with and when and how they worked - and these changes dwarf the changes we are witnessing in the current economy. Much of what has been written in the last 30 years about the changing world of work has focused on the role of technology, and the implication is that we are going through an unprecedented technological revolution. Technology is changing, but we have gone much through bigger technological revolutions in the past, particularly the introduction of the automobile. In 1900, there were over 20 million horses in the United States. The business or raising horses, feeding and stabling them and cleaning up after them (many of the beautiful brownstone houses in New York City are set six to eight feet above the street in part because the streets were often filled with horse manure at the time they were built,) represented a major part of the economy. The woes faced by Gen X workers in creative fields are nothing compared to the problems of saddle makers, blacksmiths or those involved in the manufacture of horse-drawn vehicles in the US in the early 1900s. From TED, social psychologist Leah Georges on how generational stereotypes hold us back at work The world of work is changing, and often in scary and unpredictable ways, but this is the historical norm, not the exception. We have been lulled into a nostalgia for that deeply unusual period in the 1950s to 1970s when the world of work seemed stable and predictable. This historical analysis may be cold comfort to Gen X workers who careers are collapsing, but it is a harsh truth that people who bank on the world of work never changing are likely to lose out. The best you can do is continue to build skills that are valuable and transferable and to realise that other generations have successfully weathered these changes. In 1900, prospects looked grim for saddle makers and horse feed lots, but most of the people engaged in these businesses moved on and adapted to the new world of automobiles. The current cry that AI will change everything is just a variation on the cry over the years that other technologies will change everything, and it is probably only partially true. More than 2,500 years ago, a Greek philosopher reminded us that the only constant is change. The world of work is changing, just like it always has.
