The way people work in the UK and Ireland is set to become increasingly flexible and dynamic in the coming years, according to research.

Right Management, a firm specialising in talent management, released a survey showing that 79 per cent of HR decision makers think many employees will be simultaneously pursuing multiple career paths by 2018.

Six out of ten (60 per cent) respondents forecast that a large proportion of the labour force will be on temporary contracts or operating independently as contractors or freelancers, HR Review reports.

Almost all (92 per cent) line managers and business leaders thought the coming years are likely to see older workers opting to go part-time rather than retire.

If these predictions prove accurate, forthcoming trends could have an impact on the staff rostering and workforce management strategies of many employers.

Ian Symes, UK and Ireland general manager at Right Management, said the last five years have brought "unprecedented change", which has transformed the way Britain works and what is expected of the labour force.

"Office hours are becoming blurred, people are having to learn more and develop faster than ever before and workers are expected to juggle a number of roles both at work and at home," he said.

"And all of this is happening in an increasingly unpredictable business environment."

While most people are able to cope with such changes to a certain extent, Mr Symes warned that many workers are feeling "overwhelmed, unsupported and unclear on their future direction".

Other findings highlighted the increasing significance of resilience as an employee attribute.

The majority of line managers (79 per cent) and HR decision makers (75 per cent) predicted that staff wellness will be formally measured and reported on by 2018.

Up to 72 per cent of respondents said their organisation could be doing more to help them manage prolonged periods of stress.