Out of Office: Emerging Perspectives on Hybrid Planning

The 2023 APA Trend Report called for planners in hiring or supervising positions to embrace new expectations of future employees—but what do those new expectations look like? Many early-career planners earned their degrees online, had their interviews on Zoom, or worked an entirely remote job. This panel seeks to create space for early- and mid-career planning professionals in both the public and private sectors to discuss challenges and areas of opportunity for learning and working in hybrid environments.

As the work that planners do becomes increasingly digitized, conditions created by the hybrid world will inevitably impact the profession. From social media-based community engagement to automation with AI technology, there is significant uncertainty surrounding the future of the planning profession. This discussion will look at how hybrid learning and early career opportunities impacted young professionals’ entrances into the workforce, examine how the lessons learned can be applied to planning as a profession, and look ahead to continued hybrid lifestyles.

Following this discussion, attendees will be poised to navigate the complexities and acquire creative strategies for fostering inclusive connectivity in a hybrid world.

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