What do startups have to do with the future of work?

Startups are a rapidly growing segment of the independent workforce. We’re researching how this will shape the jobs and skills of the future.

Here at the Chair in Digital Economy, one of our research areas in the Future of Work theme is ‘Massive Job Creation’. In light of some predictions about the impact of job automation, we want to look beyond the doom and gloom view of job destruction with a more opportunistic lens. As part of this focus, we’ve recently commenced a research project to explore the job creation opportunities within startups.

Global predictions estimate that independent and remote workers will make up 40% of the workforce by 2020, including gig workers, self employed workers, freelancers, startups, home-based businesses and small business that operate predominantly or exclusively online.

New technology has enabled independent workers, one-person and small businesses to cooperate, collaborate and coordinate with each other, as well as larger organisations, despite geographical boundaries. However, many questions around the required enabling technology, work opportunities, culture, productivity of this emerging workforce remain unanswered. Our research project seeks to shine some light into these dark corners.

Why startups?

The startup ecosystem is ripe for observation and research in this area for a number of reasons.

First, the startup model of lean, agile and technology enabled operation is geared towards global scale and high growth, meaning that job creation can be rapid and easily facilitated.

Ecosystem measurement is also on the rise, with state government initiatives such as Advance Queensland and surveys like Startup Muster showing the startup segment is gaining momentum in size, activity and investment.

Startups are also a potential training ground for the development of new skills, which will help ensure young Australians have the skills and experience for the jobs of the future, not the past.

And finally, startups and entrepreneurship are a growing source of new employment and work opportunities, having already created 1.44 million jobs in the Australian economy between 2006 and 2011.

In light of these emerging trends of job creation and future skills, perhaps we could view startups as the petri dish in which to study the Future of Work?

Key research questions

Drawing on the current themes, trends and unanswered questions within the startup ecosystem and future of work, we’ve put together a few key questions to guide our study:

• How does technology enable startups to create jobs?
• How does technology help or hinder startup entrepreneurs to operate and grow their business, collaborate with others and manage remote teams?
• Is there a link between entrepreneurial behaviour/mindset and a focus on job creation/building culture?
• Does job creation motivate startup entrepreneurs to succeed/grow business?

We’ve conducted 25 in-depth interviews with startup founders and CEOs, and we’re almost ready to to share some early results from the research project. There are some juicy findings in store for you! So, stay tuned…

Can’t wait till then? Check out the Chair in Digital Economy website to learn more about the latest research on the future of work, digital strategy and disruptive leadership.

If you want help working out what’s next for your organisation, please contact me at the Chair in Digital Economy.

Check out my work buddys’ posts: Marek Kowalkiewicz and Matthew Flynn

Jess Blomfield| Research Fellow, Future of Work | j.blomfield@qut.edu.au