COVID 19 has shaken the economy and workforce globally. We have seen a rapid change in
how, when and where New Zealanders are working right across the country.

The rise of flexible working arrangements seen in the initial COVID-19 lockdowns enabled
employees the ability to work remotely, a premise that had previously been met with resistance
from an employer perspective. However, many businesses saw positive results from this
approach, and it has changed the way in which they do business. The utilisation of tools such as
video interaction platform Zoom, or task manager Asana have been profound in managing
teams remotely, and many businesses have seen an increase in productivity by allowing their
staff to work to a schedule that is appropriate for them.

Redundancy and unemployment rates have also risen as a result of the global pandemic. While
this is a challenging position to be in, there have been a growing number of New Zealanders
who are now seeking alternate forms of employment. COVID-19 has exposed our vulnerabilities
of putting all of our employment-eggs in one basket, and diversifying income streams by
seeking multiple avenues of employment may future proof revenue in a more resilient and
stable way. Now more than ever, there is an incredibly capable and talented segment of former
professionals without contracted employment, creating the opportunity for a diverse, highly
skilled freelance market to boom.

Significant market and employment changes have many flow-on effects. Remote working has
allowed job-seekers to capitalise on flexible working arrangements and negotiate employment
opportunities that may be outside the region in which they reside. Career elevation and specific
roles are no longer tied to particular locations, and New Zealand employees should leverage
their skills to secure opportunities that meet their personal and professional needs. Location
barriers that existed in the previous economy have been broken down, and now New
Zealanders are able to establish vibrant working communities anywhere they desire. We may
over the next few years, see a shift away from bigger cities for many, as smaller towns or
coastal communities become attractive under the premise of stable remote income and a lower
cost of living.

For employers looking to contract out aspects of their business, this is also advantageous.
Remote working allows businesses to pool together collaborative freelances who work
cohesively. Employees no longer have to live locally, and businesses may look to shifting
towards a structure of dynamic resourcing, with a core team of essential workers and a pool of
remote, contracted freelancers as a means of operating in this evolving market.

If you are interested in changing the way you or your employees work but aren’t quite sure
where to begin, get in contact and we can help to align you the right people, in the right places.