Navigating the Future of Work: Insights From the 2024 EDCO Annual Luncheon

On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) hosted its Annual Luncheon at The Riverhouse on the Deschutes, drawing 780 business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from around Central Oregon. This year's event introduced the audience to the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in business and the leadership skills needed to succeed in a future filled with uncertainty. In an interview-style discussion moderated by Skip Newberry, President and CEO of Technology Association of Oregon, with Futurist and Bestselling Author April Rinne, the duo explored the importance of building comfort with ambiguity in today's rapidly changing world. April shared insights on the dramatic shifts in the concept of work, citing that since 2008, 94% of net new job growth has not been a result of traditional W-2 employees. She said freelance and independent workers (1099’s) now represent 36% of the American workforce, a figure that is expanding more rapidly than traditional employment. Considering the impact of AI on businesses, a topic that was highlighted in a cross-industry panel prior to April’s keynote, she echoed the panelists’ optimism related to this technology replacing mundane tasks or dangerous work. With thoughtful regulation and business leadership, speakers at the Luncheon agreed that AI could be a boom for the economy and human potential. While these trends can be viewed positively or negatively, April focused on the fact that these new realities require a strategic response from business leaders to adapt their approaches in order to remain competitive. She also addressed educators and policymakers in attendance, calling upon them to consider systems that address the mobility needs of the workforce, such as supporting skills-based learning programs like OSU-Cascades' Cascades Edge career development program. The EDCO Annual Luncheon provides a platform for sharing new ideas and economic trends that can impact the region’s robust business community. In a world of constant change, April emphasizes that ambiguity and fostering adaptability are not just strategies but necessities for success. As EDCO CEO Jon Stark summarized, “[Central Oregonians] find ourselves amid a series of economic shifts. A moment of profound Flux, as April Rinne would say. In the midst of this transformative juncture – every city, every county, elected officials, peers, even some competitors – have come together in celebration of our shared journey toward a brighter economic future for Central Oregon.”