Trends fuelling demand for wellness

Employees are living and working longer. In many parts of the world, the workforce is aging. Since 2005, the average life expectancy globally for both women and men has improved by nearly two years. More of us are choosing to work past the standard retirement age and many countries are raising the age of retirement in an attempt to slow the escalating costs of pensions and health care for retirees.

Declining health. While we’re living longer, we’re not necessarily living healthier lives. Worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980 and non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes now account for more than 60 per cent of all deaths worldwide.

Key skills are hard to find. With high levels of employment in key global markets, and an aging workforce in many Western countries, one consequence is the well-documented war for talent. Recruiting employees with the right skills and then keeping them is a costly and highly competitive business.

A growing awareness of stress and mindfulness. Stress is experienced by most people during a normal work week and is a major cause of burnout and depression. According to a CBRE survey, 79 per cent of respondents stated that balancing private and professional commitments was a cause of stress.

Technology is making it easier for people to monitor and manage their health. Brands like Apple, Nike and Garmin already offer a huge array of gadgets and apps to help us get fitter, faster and stronger. Biometric sensors and wearable technologies capture real-time data on our sweat levels, pulse, heart rate, body temperature and movement, so that we can detect stress, tiredness or illness. This technology will act as an enabler to the increasing number of people who want to proactively manage their health.

Source: CBRE Global Workplace Innovation

By Jayne Higgins and Shauna Mangan

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