The 2004 movie The Butterfly Effect follows a man called Evan who gets severe headaches that cause him to suffer black outs.
While unconscious, he is able to travel back in time and alter the past, but this causes drastic changes in his present life. The message of the movie evokes the idea that a small butterfly flapping its wings could, hypothetically, cause significant changes to the course of history.
As futurists and researchers we don’t have the ability to travel through time (thankfully we also don’t frequently suffer black outs), but we do have the ability to analyse data, scan the horizon and pull on different sources to assess where the world is going.
Every year we launch research where we unpack our research backed trends that will impact businesses and organisations in the year ahead. In this article we provide a summary of the trends to get more insight into each trends download the infographic or report.
Population growth is at record levels. Largely driven by net overseas migration which is now twice what it was in 2019. The pace of growth is outstripping infrastructure growth and the pressure on cities is mounting. To maintain the lifestyle that Australians know and indeed the lifestyle many are coming to Australia for, there is a need for the big build in both homes and infrastructure. There are also opportunities for organisations, with regional sprawl, culturally diverse customer bases, and a longevity boom bringing engagement beyond traditional target audiences.
2. Productivity Paradox
A wicked problem is created when what individuals want is the opposite of what society needs. As governments are looking for increased workforce participation, workers are prioritising work life balance. Where productivity has historically increased with an industrial model of systems, workers are looking for an artisan approach to curating their career. A generic increase in demands on individual workers is unlikely to yield productivity gains, with many already running at maximum capacity. Understanding workers and addressing the secret cost of low engagement could help unlock the next wave of productivity.
3. Consumer Compromise
As cost of living rises, consumers are faced with the tough decision of living according to their values or their means. With finite resources organisations are also challenged to make trade-offs, however, disregarding social responsibility values is not the way forward. Ethical creation has become a hygiene factor where organisations need to have a whole of life product focus, and a circular economy built in. While the current cost of living is a wave crashing the shore for many, the desire for social responsibility is the tide that is changing the consumer landscape.
4. Digital Detox
A shift from tech optimism to tech scepticism. Social media has evolved from a platform that enables people to connect and contribute to one that people consume. The impacts of social media are anything but social and many are taking steps to try and reduce their social media usage. Across society there is a desire for meaningful human connection. True community, however, doesn’t just happen, it needs to be facilitated. While today’s world is still digital first its leaders have an opportunity to facilitate and model what true community looks like.
5. Generation Acceleration
For the first time in history seven generations will be alive at once, with the arrival of Gen Beta. Gen Alpha are now the largest generation in history. The oldest Gen Zs will turn 30, while many Gen Ys are now closer to 50 than 25. Gen X are approaching retirement with the oldest turning 60.
The 7 generations in 2025
Baby Boomers are entering their retirement years with different expectations, while Builders are focusing more on relationships and building a legacy. The pace of generational change is accelerating, and organisations need to recognise these shifts to engage in a way that is relevant to each.
Trends of 2025 infographic
In this infographic we breakdown our 5 research-based trends shaping 2025.
About the Author: McCrindle are a team of researchers and communications specialists who discover insights, and tell the story of Australians – what we do, and who we are.
https://rhema.cc/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Two-men-walking-down-a-purple-and-blue-lit-corridor.jpg6281200Rhema Central Coasthttps://rhema.cc/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RhemaCC-base-cropped-300x143.pngRhema Central Coast2025-01-01 07:52:532025-01-01 23:00:45Social Trends Forecast: What’s Coming in 2025
