Should we start taking coding classes at General Assembly, invest in a new degree, or launch a solo business so we aren't dependent on a "steady" job that could disappear overnight?

There are no clear answers, but one thing is certain: Many of the changes we're seeing now—automation, heavier reliance on freelance and other flexible talent, the rise of digital platforms that connect people with work in the "gig economy," and a heightened demand for tech skills—are only going to gather momentum.

To get insight into how to thrive in our fast-evolving economy, I spoke recently with Andrew Karpie, a research analyst at Azul Partners/Spend Matters. He covers the ways in which technology is changing how enterprises find and procure their contingent workforce and labor-based services.