When back at school, and thinking about a career to pursue after I left (or trying to, I realise how futile that was now), I never really pictured myself holding down a nine-to-five job, as part of a cradle-to-grave career.

Actually I saw myself living life in some kind of (hedonistic) stasis such was my indecision.

Fast forward to 2008, and both the “cradle to grave” career, and nine-to-five, Monday to Friday work week, are, in most quarters, decidedly quaint concepts.

And the way we work, and when, is set to become increasingly fragmented as more workers opt for flexi-time and part-time work arrangements, say prominent futurists Mark Pesce and Charles Brass, in response to the question how will the office be different in 2033?

Charles Brass, chairman of the forward-looking organisation the Futures Foundation, sees further movement away from the nine-to-five job structure that has been the norm. In its place will be more part-time and casual work and more flexi-time. Time-based contract work is also on the rise. While 30 per cent of employees are currently employed on contracts that must be renewed as they expire, the figure is expected to grow to 50 per cent by 2015 and even more by 2033. Mr Brass said younger workers are increasingly doing two or more part-time jobs at any one time and that he believed this trend would grow in the future.