By Tuğba İleri, Founder Mornext HR & Talent
In the press: This article is based on insights from the Holland High Tech Event, where Tuğba İleri was interviewed by journalist İlhan Karaçay.
The future of work is no longer an abstract concept. It's here.
That was the message that struck me most at the Holland High Tech Event in Zuid-Holland. An event where technology, industry, and human resources converge. And where the urgency was palpable.
Not in five years. Not in ten. Now.
The world of work is shifting. Faster than expected.
What stood out during the event: the transformation is happening much faster than most organizations realize.
Traditional business models are losing their relevance. What's replacing them is a structure that's more flexible, deeply intertwined with technology, and fundamentally human-centered.
The presentation "The Human Edge: 2026 Future of Work Trends" mapped out four pillars defining this new era:
- Hybrid Super Teams: Humans and AI working together. Roles are being redesigned.
- Rapid Relearning: One degree is no longer enough. Continuous learning is the norm.
- Changing Norms: Trust is declining, employees demand more autonomy and equity.
- The Succession Crisis: There aren't enough leaders ready for the next generation.
The numbers don't lie
The data presented speaks volumes:
👉 1.4 million people short in the Netherlands by 2030 (McKinsey)
👉 2 million employees will retire. 300,000 of them in Zuid-Holland.
👉 1 in 3 workers has no confidence in their own Tech & AI skills
👉 Over 50% of employees received no relevant skills training in the past year
👉 60% of employees are actively or secretly looking for a new job
👉 Only 24% are satisfied with the AI training their employer provides
Let that sink in.
Technology is changing at lightning speed. People are not being brought along.
From Industry 5.0 to Industry 6.0
Another central theme: the leap from Industry 5.0 to Industry 6.0.
Industry 5.0 was about collaboration between humans and machines: cobots, customization, flexible production lines.
Industry 6.0 goes further: fully autonomous systems, AI-driven ecosystems, and organizations that continuously self-improve.
The human role is shifting. From executor to designer, operator, and overseer of systems.
This demands a completely different type of leadership. And that's where the problem lies.
The succession crisis: who leads next?
Perhaps the most urgent signal from the event: the succession crisis.
There aren't enough leaders ready for what's coming. The traditional leadership style, top-down and control-driven, no longer works. The next generation of leaders must understand technology, navigate uncertainty, and keep the human factor central.
The alarming finding: the lowest satisfaction scores are measured among current top executives themselves. The pressure on leadership has never been higher.
Generations collide
Gen Z and millennials are the least satisfied group and the most likely to switch jobs. The main reason? Insufficient growth opportunities and uncertainty about the future.
At the same time, experienced senior workers are retiring. This creates a dual problem: expertise disappears while mobility increases.
Organizations that don't address this are losing on two fronts simultaneously.
What this means for HR
As an HR strategist, I see these shifts play out in practice every day.
HR is no longer a support function. It's a strategic force that determines whether an organization grows or stagnates in the coming years.
The essence:
- Stop searching for talent through the same channels. Start connecting with talent pools that are currently invisible.
- Stop waiting for the perfect profile. Start investing in rapid relearning and development.
- Stop reacting to burnout. Start preventing it by addressing leadership and culture.
This is not theory. This is what we do at Mornext every day.
In the press
Following the Holland High Tech Event, Tuğba İleri was interviewed by journalist İlhan Karaçay. In the article, she is cited as an HR strategist on the future of work, the impact of AI on the labor market, and the growing gap between technology and human capital.
Read the full article:
Hollanda'da İş Dünyası Kökten Değişiyor: Gelecek Artık Bugünün İçinde Yaşanıyor
"HR strategist Tuğba İleri emphasized that the most striking conclusion of the event is that the business world is changing much faster than expected."
The labor market isn't waiting
The shifts presented at the Holland High Tech Event are not predictions. They are facts unfolding right now.
The question is not whether your organization will face this. The question is: are you prepared?
Want to know where your organization stands? Get in touch for a no-obligation conversation.