LinkedIn co-founder’s viral prediction: 9 to 5 jobs will be extinct by 2034

Traditional 9 to 5 jobs may soon be a thing of the past, according to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who foresees the current job structure becoming obsolete by 2034. 

In a viral video that resurfaced recently, Hoffman explains that the workforce will undergo a profound shift, driven by the rise of the gig economy and AI growth. 

“You may not do a lot of your work fully as an employee,” Hoffman explains in the video. “You may actually be working in the gig economy, or you may have two or three gigs.”

This transformation, according to Hoffman, offers more opportunities for flexibility and productivity. 

Your 9-to-5 job is dying.

By 2034, it’ll be extinct.

That’s Reid Hoffman’s latest prediction – the founder of LinkedIn who predicted the rise of social media in 1997.

Here’s what he said next: pic.twitter.com/dZTDzBKlfB

— Neal Taparia (@nealtaparia) July 24, 2024

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Mixed reactions 

Hoffman’s prediction sparked discussions on social media. Some welcomed the change while others were skeptical. 

Investor and entrepreneur Neal Taparia took to X to echo Hoffman’s views, urging his followers to “probably listen to [Hoffman’s] latest prediction.”

Taparia highlighted how Hoffman predicted the rise of social media in 1997 and foresaw the growth of the sharing economy and the AI revolution long before ChatGPT came to life.

Taparia’s post quickly drew wide attention, with Hoffman’s video getting 18 million views.

Hoffman’s past predictions are spooky:

• Predicted social networks would change the world (LinkedIn sold for $26B)
• Saw the sharing economy coming (Early Airbnb investor)
• Called the AI revolution years before ChatGPT

So we should probably listen to his latest prediction: pic.twitter.com/7CzIyMuRiO

— Neal Taparia (@nealtaparia) July 24, 2024

One user commented, “We will definitely all be freelancers,” while another expressed eagerness to get out of the 9 to 5 job, asking, “Can’t it be now?”

However, not everyone agrees with the LinkedIn cofounder. Jay Zagorsky, a professor of markets, public policy and law at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, said he doesn’t believe that the 9 to 5 job will completely vanish. 

“I see a continuation of what’s happening right now – where there’s a split between flexible-time jobs and fixed-time jobs,” Zagorsky said.

How to survive this seismic workforce shift

According to experts, the key is to focus on developing skills that can thrive in the gig economy.

Pick a skill that is in line with emerging industry trends, then master that skill to secure your place in the evolving job market.