LinkedIn co-founder predicts end of 9-to-5 jobs by 2034
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — In a viral video that has resurfaced, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman boldly predicts that traditional 9-to-5 jobs will become extinct by 2034.
Hoffman’s forecast, which has garnered significant attention on social media, envisions a workforce transformation driven by the gig economy and advancements in artificial intelligence.
The future of work according to Hoffman
Hoffman, who also predicted the rise of social media in 1997, explains in the video that the current job structure is set to undergo a profound shift.
“You may not do a lot of your work fully as an employee,” he states. “You may actually be working in the gig economy, or you may have two or three gigs.”
According to Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), revenue in the global gig economy totaled $3.8 trillion in 2022.
SIA’s definition of the gig economy includes temporary workers hired through staffing agencies, direct-hire temporary workers with no agency, independent contractors, statement-of-work consultants at firms, and temporary workers from online talent platforms.
This transformation, according to Hoffman, will offer increased opportunities for flexibility and productivity.
Hoffman also believes that AI will play a major role in reshaping the traditional business landscape. “A lot of jobs are going to change their nature by how automation either takes the job completely or changes the way that people do jobs.”
Investor and entrepreneur Neal Taparia took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his support for Hoffman’s vision. He pointed out that Hoffman had foreseen the growth of AI long before the development of tools like ChatGPT. “He’s been right before,” Taparia emphasized, urging people to take the prediction seriously.
Hoffman's past predictions are spooky:
• Predicted social networks would change the world (LinkedIn sold for $26B)
• Saw the sharing economy coming (Early Airbnb investor)
• Called the AI revolution years before ChatGPTSo we should probably listen to his latest prediction: pic.twitter.com/7CzIyMuRiO
— Neal Taparia (@nealtaparia) July 24, 2024
Mixed reactions to Hoffman’s viral prediction
While some welcome the prospect of increased flexibility, others express concern about the potential loss of stability associated with traditional employment models.
“We will definitely all be freelancers,” one user commented, while another expressed eagerness, saying, “Can’t it be now?”
On the other hand, Jay Zagorsky, a professor of markets, public policy and law at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, doesn’t believe Hoffman’s prediction.
Instead, he sees a continuation “where there’s a split between flexible-time jobs and fixed-time jobs.”
“All of these jobs from cleaners to air traffic control workers all share the same common feature, when the shift is over, the person is done with work,” he added.
“These jobs are not going to disappear, no matter what the pronouncements from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.”
