• Home
  • Courses by Subject
      • Accounting
      • Bookkeeping
      • Finance
      • MYOB
      • Payroll
      • Xero
      • Animal Care
      • Animal Science
      • Dog Training
      • Pet Grooming
      • Veterinary Nursing
      • Arts
      • Dance
      • Design
      • Graphic Design
      • Interior Design
      • Photography
      • User Experience Design
      • Web Design
      • Building and Construction
      • Plumbing
      • Business
      • Business Administration
      • Business Development
      • Business Operations
      • Change Management
      • Customer Service
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Human Resources
      • Leadership and Management
      • Logistics
      • Management
      • MBA
      • Organisational Development
      • PRINCE2
      • Product Management
      • Project Management
      • Quality Management
      • Reception
      • Small Business
      • Supply Chain Operations
      • Aged Care
      • Alcohol and Other Drugs
      • Celebrancy
      • Community Services
      • Disability
      • Individual Support
      • Youth Work
      • Child Care
      • Education
      • Education Support
      • Training and Assessment
      • Manufacturing
      • Agriculture
      • Conservation and Land Management
      • Horticulture
      • Beauty
      • Eyebrow
      • Hairdressing
      • Lash
      • Makeup
      • Nail Technology
      • Allied Health
      • Counselling
      • Dental Assisting
      • Fitness
      • Health
      • Health Administration
      • Health Science
      • Health Services Assistance
      • Life Coaching
      • Massage
      • Medical Administration
      • Mental Health
      • Naturopathy
      • Nursing
      • Nutrition
      • Personal Training
      • Pharmacy
      • Practice Management
      • Psychology
      • Sports Management
      • Event Management
      • Hospitality
      • Retail
      • Travel and Tourism
      • Wedding Planning
      • Agile
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • AWS
      • Cloud Computing
      • Coding
      • CompTIA
      • Cyber Security
      • Data Analytics
      • Data Science
      • IT
      • ITIL
      • Microsoft
      • Networking
      • Programming
      • Software
      • Systems Administration
      • Web Development
      • Compliance and Risk
      • Criminology
      • Government
      • Work Health and Safety
      • Digital Marketing
      • Marketing
      • Social Media Marketing
    • Blended
    • In-class
    • Online
    • Virtual
  • Courses by State
    • ACT
    • New South Wales
    • Northern Territory
    • Queensland
    • South Australia
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
    • Western Australia
    • Graduate Diploma
    • Diploma
    • Advanced Diploma
    • Associate Degree
    • Graduate Certificate
    • Certificate II
    • Certificate III
    • Certificate IV
    • Bachelor
    • Masters
    • Short
  • Courses by Provider
  • Government Funded Courses
  • Student Hub
  • The Workforce Training Hub
  • FAQs
 Homepage
Student Hub Career Advice Industry Insider Study Tips Resources Video Gallery
  1. Home
  2. Student Hub
  3. News
  4. How the Workplace Changed in 50 Years – and How to Prepare for the Next 50
In this post
  • Technological Change
  • Employee Engagement
  • A Safe Work Environment
  • Equality
  • Job Security
  • Where do we go from here?
Published on January 25, 2023

How the Workplace Changed in 50 Years – and How to Prepare for the Next 50

Avatar photo Kristen Michaelides
How the Workplace Changed in 50 Years – and How to Prepare for the Next 50
In this post Show
  • Technological Change
  • Employee Engagement
  • A Safe Work Environment
  • Equality
  • Job Security
  • Where do we go from here?

The modern workplace has changed dramatically over 50 years.

New technologies have to lead to new jobs, and advances in civil rights and equality have meant we see a very different work environment for the next generation.


Technological Change

50 years ago, computers took up an entire room and had maximum storage capabilities of our smallest USB’s today. In recent years, it’s become a compulsory part of working life to have a laptop, and much of our workplace communication is done via technology.

Not to mention the gig economy which relies almost entirely on apps. Social media like LinkedIn means that our online lives become just as important as our in-person work, and many people choose to engage in remote working in an effort to improve their work/life balance.

The number of jobs created by
technological change

23 MILLION

Across Europe from 1999 to 2016


Employee Engagement

The difference between then and now in terms of employee engagement is significant. Nowadays, mental health and the idea of doing what you love is prevalent, as opposed to doing a job because you have to for survival.

Today, many people quote “do what you love and you’ll never work a day of your life” as a motivation for choosing careers. It means that employees are more engaged with their work, and companies actively try to find ways to inspire employee engagement, including:

  • Yoga or other fitness classes
  • Donating profits to charities
  • Giving staff a percentage of shares
  • Providing social assistance to those from low socioeconomic areas
  • Helping small businesses through mentorship programs
  • Encouraging coworkers to socialise through Friday night drinks and other social events

the approximate economic impact of google drive being released
in America alone is

$131 BILLION


A Safe Work Environment

In the past, the health care of employees was often seen as irrelevant. In modern workplaces, occupational health and safety are incredibly important.

How a worksite uses machinery, technologies, and other work tools is now done in such a way that staff stays safe. Many companies are now also taking an active interest in employee’s mental health.


Equality

After world war two, women who had been working were expected and legally forced, to give up their jobs to men. Today, there are high levels of female workplace engagement and employment, with some even introducing a specified number of women to ensure equality in the workplace.

Lawyers, doctors, and engineers are no longer exclusively middle-aged white men – we’ve seen leaps and bounds in terms of reduced racism and ageism, although we still have room for improvement!

In 1950 men made up two-thirds of the workplace, by 2024

5.6%

is how much the gender gap is expected to reduce by 2024


Job Security

Unfortunately, one of the costs of an improved work-life balance is that there are less full-time positions available. In today’s world, while you can work from home or return to work part-time after childbirth – it’s harder to find work that includes a contract.

The implicit contracts where you’d work for one company your entire life are less and less common as people are forced or choose, to change jobs more often due to lifestyle, travel, or circumstance.


Where do we go from here?

We’re moving into a globalised world where it’s not uncommon to travel and work with an American company in Australia. With business trips to Europe and Asia commonplace, consider learning another language to improve your circumstances in the workplace.

Technology will also become more important, with experts warning that the amount of data out there is likely to be a big issue for companies in the future, so learning about cloud computing and data storage is another great way to get ahead. Find cloud computing and other useful technology-based courses here.

Finally, companies are always looking to reduce training costs by promoting staff who already have management experience and training under their belt. With promotions no longer guaranteed by time spent at a company, some extra management training is always a good way to ensure that hiring managers and HR consider you for promotions in the future.

 

There are some fantastic benefits to our work lives today that we didn’t have in the past. With the benefits of technology, we can communicate faster over longer distances and can also keep ourselves and our work more organised.

Employers care about the health and wellbeing of staff and are coming up with ways to ensure that employees have a proper work/life balance. Plus, the workplace is a more diverse, equal place with more opportunities for everyone.

However, the rise in technology means that data security is a concern, and a more global world means that we need to understand each other better. Plus, with murkier pathways to promotion, studying management is now a necessity for people who are looking to be good leaders in the future.

But all of those issues can be addressed by further training and experience, so get out there and enjoy the workplace environment that modernity brings!

Avatar photo
Kristen Michaelides
Kristen Michaelides

Kristen is a writer specialising in education and the future of work. She is passionate about bringing industry trends and insights to light to help students and professionals take that next step in their career.

Latest Articles


The Future of Counselling Jobs in Australia

Thinking about a career in counselling? You might wonder—is it a good career choice right now? Will...

Avatar photo
Kristen Michaelides
May 6, 2025
Read More

How to Get Your Counselling Accreditation and Registration

Embarking on a counselling career in Australia offers a fulfilling opportunity to support people in...

Avatar photo
Kristen Michaelides
May 6, 2025
Read More

What Are Counselling Microskills?

Microskills are fundamental communication techniques used to build rapport, actively listen, and gui...

Avatar photo
Kristen Michaelides
May 6, 2025
Read More

Want to read more?


The New Way to Get a Good Job Without Uni

Higher apprenticeships are the new way to get a high-paying job without university - find out why an...

Avatar photo
Candlefox
Jan 7, 2020
Read More

ATO Reveals the Top 10 Highest Paid Jobs of Australia

The Australian Tax Office has just released its data revealing Australia’s wealthiest suburbs and hi...

Rebecca Fox
Rebecca Fox
Jun 11, 2023
Read More

Failing University Students to be Cut Off from HELP Loans

New measures from the federal government will see university students who fail four first-year units...

Claudia Reiners
Claudia Reiners
Aug 13, 2020
Read More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get expert advice, insights, and explainers on tricky topics — designed to help you navigate your learning journey with confidence.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy & Policy" and "Terms of Use"
  • Popular Subjects
  • Qualification Type
  • Government Funded Courses
  • Courses by Location
  • Accounting
  • Aged Care
  • Animal Care
  • Beauty
  • Business
  • Business Admin
  • Child Care
  • Community Services
  • Counselling
  • Disability
  • Education
  • Health
  • IT
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Photography
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • View More
  • View More
  • South Australia
  • Brisbane
  • Canberra
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia
  • View More
  • Courses In ACT
  • Courses In NSW
  • Courses In NT
  • Courses In QLD
  • Courses In SA
  • Courses In Tasmania
  • Courses In VIC
  • Courses In WA
  • View More

Newsletter sign up

We'll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.
Courses
  • All Subjects
  • Online Courses
  • Courses by Location
Education Providers
  • Our Providers
  • What is an RTO?
Government Funded Courses
  • What is a government funded course?
  • Am I eligible?
  • Funding by State
Resources
  • Our blog
About us
  • About training.com.au
  • FAQs
Contact us
  • Advertise your course
  • Become an affiliate
Certified B Corporation
Training AU Facebook Training AU Instagram Training AU Tiktok
Certified B Corporation
Australian Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag
In the spirit of reconciliation, training.com.au acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Copyright © 2025 Training.com.au
All Rights Reserved.

Newsletter Sign Up

We’ll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"
Back to Top

You are currently visiting our Australian website Training.com.au

Would you like to visit our New Zealand website instead?

Visit Training.co.nz