Thereʼs a popular childrenʼs book called Whereʼs Waldo, in which the lead character – with his signature red-and-white striped shirt and somewhat goofy expression – is obscured by various collections of people and things. Heʼs hidden, but in plain sight (if youʼll excuse the oxymoron) and itʼs the young readerʼs task to locate him in every illustration. By the end of the book, children become adept at locating the enigmatic Waldo in a glance.
We can only hope that this instructional parable reminds us of how sometimes the simplest truth can be obstructed by our need to make things complex. And so it is with the new world of work. If you want to know where the jobs are, hereʼs a hint: Theyʼre in plain sight.
You might call this new, adult game Whereʼs the Work. And the stakes couldnʼt be higher.