The war for talent among businesses, particularly in the rapidly developing tech sector, is nothing new, but the way in which this talent is now recruited is changing in line with the ever-increasing blur between work and home. 

Talent is becoming a more dynamic and transient force and, as a result, businesses are having to adapt in order to be attractive. As such we have seen the rise of the ‘moveable workforce’: a growing group of freelance individuals across the globe that are primed to go wherever the right work and project opportunities take them.

However, it’s not just about the job – it’s about the destination. While the talent will come to you, the decision to take on a project or freelance position will be determined by where and how these individuals want to live. The appeal of a city as a place to live, work and learn is now an incredibly important factor that sits alongside whether the job, company and actual physical building are right for workers.

This mobile workforce is not looking for permanent jobs which they will stay at for years at a time; it’s freelance and project work that takes them to new places and gives them new experiences. They can travel the globe while working in corporate offices and building their careers but without being tied to one company. Their next location will depend heavily on the experiences they can gain, the culture they can experience and how this adds to their career and personal development.

They could be the talent that is found working for a corporate in serviced office space or they could be integrated as part of a business for a specific venture. Their wealth of global expertise enables them to add a new dimension to any company they join and their flexible nature ensures they can adapt to a new environment instantly.

The key factor for real estate is that talent and how it behaves is one of the main considerations for occupiers and therefore influences much of what happens in the sector. The focus to futureproof a business by ensuring it has the right talent to secure its progression is vital and the way in which these individuals want to work is having a huge impact on the office.

Furthermore, the trend for businesses to hire freelance workers for specific projects is growing and this could therefore lead to a rise in the companies taking co-working space across the globe to accommodate the moveable workforce or adapting their existing space to include them.

The opportunities that this mobile talent brings are endless and signals a new era in working practices.

Further information

Contact Savills Occupier Services