Future of Work Initiative

At a glance

  • Shifts in demographics, new technologies, and other global trends are causing rapid change in work, the workplace, and the workforce.
  • NIOSH established the Future of Work Initiative to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
  • The Initiative serves as a cross-NIOSH effort to set priorities, coordinate activities, share information, and build information.
Three circle venn diagram of workplace, workforce, and work, with "future of work" in the center.

Overview

Today, the workplace, work, and workforce are changing more rapidly than ever before. New technologies, particularly in automation, robotics, information, and communication mean frequent change in work, and the workplace. Workers must adapt to the changing economic environment and demand for skills, even while affected by shifts in demographics and culture. These shifts in turn cause changes in work organization, and may require further new and responsive technology. All this occurs amid a complex, interconnected landscape of global trade and policies, prone to social, economic, or environmental disruption. The future of work heralds not only new and changing hazards for the nation's workers, but also opportunities for dramatic improvements.

In response, NIOSH launched the Future of Work Initiative. It seeks to identify new research solutions, practical approaches, and partnership opportunities to address the future of work for the nation. While applying Total Worker Health® principles, the Initiative encourages collaboration across a range of activities of organizational policies, programs, and practices. It is a collective effort of interdisciplinary research, and communication throughout NIOSH, other government agencies, and organizations.

Priorities

NIOSH has established future of work priority topics and sub-topics for the workplace, work, and workforce.

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Priorities organized by workplace, work, and workforce.
Future of Work Initiative Priority Topics

Issues that impact Workplace, Work, and Workforce: emergency and disaster preparedness and response, exposures and hazards, extreme weather conditions, globalization, industry 4.0, OSH 4.0, policies, politics, resources, and social disruption.

Workplace

Organizational Design

• Autonomy • Burnout and Stress Prevention • Healthy Leadership • Job Flexibility • Leave Systems • Scheduling • Social and Corporate Responsibility • Workplace Built Environment • Workspace • Work-Life Fit

Technological Job Displacement

• Automation • Digitalization • Job Quantity and Quality • Occupational Polarization • Productivity Enhancement and Quality Improvement through Automated Manufacturing • Stable, New, and Redundant Work

Work Arrangements

* Alternative • App-Based • Contingent • Contractual • Direct Hire • Distributed • Free-Lancer • Job Sharing • Non-Standard • On-Call • On-Demand • Part-Time • Platform • Precarious • Seasonal • Single vs. Multi-Employers • Temporary

Work

Artificial Intelligence

• Deep Learning • Machine Learning • Neural Networks

Technologies

• Additive and Smart Manufacturing, and 3D Printing • Advanced, Cloud, and Quantum Computing • Bio-Manufacturing • Bio-Technology • Clean and Green Technologies • Digitalization • Information and Communication Technologies • Internet-of-Things • Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials • Sensors • Sensor Surveillance • Smart Personal Protective Equipment

Robotics

• Autonomous, Collaborative, Industrial, Managerial, Service, and Social Robots • Autonomous Vehicles • Human-Machine Interaction • Unmanned Aerial Systems • Wearable Exoskeletons and Exosuits

Workforce

Demographics

• Diversity and Inclusivity • Multi-Generational • Productive Aging • Vulnerable

Economic Security

• Adequate Wages • Equitable and Commensurate Compensation and Benefits • Minimum Guaranteed Hours

Skills

• Continual Education, Learning, and Training • Re-Skilling and Up-Skilling

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Research agenda

The NIOSH Future of Work Initiative Research Agenda builds on the priority topics. Outlining research-focused directions to grow the Initiative, it may inform practice, policy, and capacity-building activities. The agenda frames the most pressing workplace and work issues expected to impact the safety and health of tomorrow's workforce. It uses a comprehensive approach across jobs, occupations, and industries.

Resources

Webinar Series‎

From 2021 through 2024, NIOSH hosted a series of webinars on the Future of Work. With the participation of NIOSH researchers and external experts, this series explores subjects and critical questions vital for the safety, health, and well-being of tomorrow's workforce.
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Science blogs

The NIOSH Science Blog has short, easy to read articles on occupational safety and health topics. Check out NIOSH Science Blogs about Future of Work.

Journal articles

The foundational paper for the Future of Work Initiative suggests an integrated approach to address worker safety, health, and well-being. It also introduces priority topics and potential next steps.

See also the NIOSHTIC-2 database search results on Future of Work. NIOSHTIC-2 is a database of occupational safety and health publications funded in whole or in part by NIOSH.

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Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health