The labour force projections established that for the short-term the labour market will recover as COVID-19 becomes endemic and the economy restarts. However, there will be headwinds encountered by the manufacturing and construction industry regarding employment growth. In the long-term there is an expectation that job vacancies are expected to decline and will lead to job seekers spending long periods seeking employment.
The qualitative results from this study demonstrated mainly the need for a more inclusive workplace culture. Promoting inclusivity spanned options like pro-family and age-friendly HR practices; to having open conversations with employees; to seeing how organisations can also serve their interests while fulfilling business outcomes.
By taking the necessary pre-emptive measures and making changes to align and meet the challenges posed by population ageing and slowing labour force growth, it is possible to achieve better business outcomes that will benefit all parties, and thereby producing a vibrant economic outlook despite the impending challenges.