Gen Alpha expects hybrid work, AI tools & shorter commutes

International Workplace Group has published research suggesting that Generation Alpha expects hybrid working, shorter commutes and widespread use of AI assistants and robots to define working life by 2040.

The study surveyed 11 to 17-year-olds and their parents. It found that 86% of Gen Alpha expects their jobs to differ dramatically from their parents' working lives.

The research points to shifting assumptions about where work happens and how employees communicate. It also signals expectations for immersive technology in offices, including virtual and augmented reality in meetings.

Commute changes

Commuting emerged as a major dividing line between current working patterns and what younger people expect. Only 29% of Gen Alpha said they expect to travel more than 30 minutes for work each day.

The study reported that 75% of respondents viewed reducing time lost to commuting as a priority. It linked that preference to a desire for more time with family in adulthood.

The research referenced separate data on commuting sentiment in Singapore. A YouGov survey commissioned by Budget Direct Insurance reported that 56% of commuters with travel times of 46 to 60 minutes considered their commute too long. That share rose to 77% among those travelling 61 to 75 minutes. The same survey found that 95% of respondents said commute length mattered when assessing new job opportunities.

The research also cited planned transport development in Singapore. By the 2030s, 8 in 10 households are expected to be within a 10-minute walk of a train station, according to the information included in the report.

AI expectations

The research found that 88% of Gen Alpha expects to work regularly with smart assistants and robots. It framed that expectation as a routine feature of future jobs rather than a specialist tool used in a narrow set of roles.

The report also stated that a third of respondents, 32%, predicted email would disappear. They anticipated other collaboration tools replacing it in day-to-day work.

The study listed further predictions about how workplaces will look and feel. It said 38% expected virtual reality headsets for meetings and 25% expected augmented reality-enabled meeting rooms. It also cited expectations for gaming areas at 38%, sleeping pods at 31%, and personalised temperature and lighting settings at 28%.

It connected these expectations to education and skills programmes in Singapore. The research pointed to the EdTech Masterplan 2030 by the Ministry of Education, which sets out plans for integrating AI tools into teaching and learning. It also referenced the AI Student Outreach Programmeme by AI Singapore, which includes certifications and internship opportunities.

Hybrid as standard

Hybrid working featured as a core assumption in the study's findings. It reported that 81% of Gen Alpha expects hybrid working to become the standard working practice by 2040.

Only 17% said they expected to work from a main office all the time. The study said most respondents anticipated splitting work between home, local workspaces and a central headquarters.

The report also listed perceived outcomes from a move away from a rigid office model. It cited less travel stress at 51%, more time with friends and family at 50%, improved health and wellbeing at 43%, and more productive workers at 30%.

It linked these expectations to interest in a shorter working week. The study reported that 33% of Gen Alpha believed a four-day working week would be the norm by 2040.

The research included a comparison with current employer practices in Singapore. It cited a Hays survey which found 49% of respondents believed they would be more productive working within a four-day timeframe. It also stated that 4 in 5 organisations provided flexible working arrangements in 2025, with 30% planning to introduce more.

IWG Founder and CEO Mark Dixon commented on the findings.

"The next generation of workers have made their views clear; flexibility in where and how they work is not optional, but a must. The current generation have grown up seeing their parents waste time and money on long, daily commutes and technology today has effectively rendered them redundant.

Technology has always shaped the world of work and will continue to do so. 30 years ago, saw the transformative impact of the widespread adoption of email and today the advent of AI and robots is having an equally profound impact and will influence how and where Gen Alpha work tomorrow", said Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO, IWG.

The research indicates that employers and workspace providers can expect sustained pressure for hybrid policies, shorter travel times and greater use of automation and digital collaboration tools as Gen Alpha enters the workforce.