The emerging workforce continues to puzzle traditional managers, particularly those used to a once-size-fits-all approach to managing people.

Now, Workforce 2020, a major study from Oxford Economics, in conjunction with SAP, has identified six major issues that businesses are struggling with. Oxford surveyed more than 5,000 employees worldwide and conducted a series of in-depth interviews as well.

Oxford notes in a release that corporations are "facing the most diverse work environment that the world has ever seen with five different generations working together, across geographies — each with different skills, experiences and work habits. More of these workers will be freelancers and long-term contractors. All of this represents a major opportunity for productivity, talent development and employee engagement, but … most companies are unprepared to capitalize on it."