Future of Work Resources

One Year Later, What We’ve Learned from Online Learning
New America, October 2022 (article)
The overnight shift to online learning left districts scrambling and left many students behind. Here’s what we know now.

Employee continuing education and the future of work
Fast Company, August 2022 (article)
Analysis of study on higher education careers finding that: continuing education is the new normal; short courses can make a big impact; and rethinking job candidate evaluation.

Technology is shaping learning in higher education
McKinsey Global, June 2022
New research shows that students and faculty are eager to continue using new classroom learning technologies adopted during the pandemic, but institutions could do more to support the shift. 

There is a skills gap and the future of work will require stronger soft skills, study shows – The Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail, June 2022 (article)
Even though employers look for candidates with literacy, numeracy and digital skills, a new study shows social and emotional skills (SES) such as communication, collaboration, leadership, resilience and cultural competency are critical in the workplace and need to be nurtured early on in life.

These are the world’s most in-demand professions
ManpowerGroup and World Economic Forum, May 2022 (Survey and Report)
Results of a survey of more than 40,000 employers worldwide highlighting the most in-demand jobs and identifying a global talent shortage.

How Gen Z teens accidentally blew up the myth of the lazy millennial
Washington Post, July 2022 (video)
Article examining labor participation rates of different generations, particularly youth employment. Includes trends around youth employment.

The raw-materials challenge: How the metals and mining sector will be at the core of enabling the energy transition
McKinsey Global, April 2022 (article)
As the world gears up for net zero, demand for raw materials is set to soar. The energy transition presents distinctive challenges for as new technologies will require unique raw materials sourced through new techniques and locations.

Developing The Most In-Demand Skills For The Future Of Work (forbes.com)
Forbes, June 2022 (article)
Future of work skills and competencies are changing, leading to increased demand for critical thinking skills AI is unable to carry out such as leadership, human judgment, complex decision-making, collaboration and team-working, digital threat awareness, awareness of issues of ethics, culture, and diversity.

Women in the Workplace 2022
McKinsey Global, October 2022 (report)
Women leaders are switching jobs at the highest rates we’ve ever seen, and ambitious young women are prepared to do the same. To make meaningful and sustainable progress toward gender equality, companies need to go beyond table stakes.

Building Professional Social Capital for Black Learners and Workers
Jobs for the Future, 2022 (report)
Mapping the landscape of programs specifically designed to help Black learners and workers build professional social capital.

Racial and ethnic equity in US higher education: Students and faculty
McKinsey Global, July 2022 (report)
An analysis of data from 3,200 two- and four-year colleges examining representation of students, faculty, and noninstructional staff found that most institutions have room for improvement.

Making the Future of Work More Inclusive?
Nasdaq, June 2022 (article)
Article exploring organizational business models and evolving attention to worker preferences that can contribute to the emergence of new forms of work that depart from the norm and allow for a new level of individuality and expression.

Growing and sustaining prosperity for small-town Americans
McKinsey Global, August 2022 (report)
Interview with Matt Dunne, founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Development, discussing the growing economic divide between urban and rural communities. Explores opportunities and challenges for rural towns, including infrastructure, technology, and the rural innovation initiative and ESOPs. 

A Diverse, Inclusive Workforce Can Help Improve Gaming Studios’ Culture and Speed of Innovation
WTIA, July 2022 (article)
Analysis of gaming industry, and the effects of workplace diversity on growth, production, and employee retention.

Development Equity: Investing in an Inclusive Future of Work | ASU+GSV 2021
ASU and GSV Ventures, August 2021 (video)
In this session, business leaders, board members, and school executives discuss how the shift to a more virtual world can serve as a springboard for developing all potential leaders equitably.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the holistic needs of all employees
Mercer, June 2022 (webinar)
Webinar exploring organizational DEI programs that support underserved employee populations using data-driven information to identify social determinants of health and how health disparities can affect subgroups of workers differently.

What is the future of work for persons with disabilities?
World Economic Forum, May 2022 (article)
As the working landscape shifts to more flexible, remote and less traditional, what are the implications for people with disabilities. Explores areas of work unfolding for persons with disability in the future, and how to foster it.

Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2022
International Labour Organization, September 2022 (report)
This report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) provides the latest estimates of renewable energy employment globally.

Climate Action Fast Facts: Jobs
United Nations, December 2022 (Website)
A green transition, including a shift to renewable energy, the manufacturing of electric vehicles and construction of energy-efficient buildings, will create 24 million jobs by 2030, far more than the 6 million that could be lost. Details where jobs are projected to be created and lost.

2022 State of Climate Services: Energy
World Meteorological Organization, December 2022 (report)
This 2022 edition of the WMO State of Climate Services report focuses on the issue of energy, a subject that continues to dominate discussion and debate as it affects every single community, business, sector and economic sector, in all parts of the world.

Global Energy Perspective 2022
McKinsey Global, April 2022 (report)
An economic rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered price spikes for multiple commodities. However, the transition to a lower-carbon energy system continues and accelerates, and the coming decades will likely see a rapidly-changing energy landscape. This report provides insights into the longer-term trends that will continue to be essential in shaping future energy systems.

The Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation: A Flexible New Tool to Build the Economy, Strengthen Science, and Fight Climate Change.
ITIF, August 2022 (article)
Video conference series and supporting resources from Ceres 2021 gathering of institutional investors, corporate executives, policymakers and regulators to call for the urgent, necessary and achievable actions needed today to combat climate change.

Cluster-Based, Inclusive Regional Economic Development
Jobs for the Future (report)
Emerging case study in the Inland Empire region of California, examining what it takes in practice to implement a cluster strategy towards the triple bottom line goals of job quality, environmental sustainability, and inclusive growth.

Global Lighthouse Network: Unlocking Sustainability through Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Technologies
World Economic Forum, September 2021 (report)
White paper challenging the notion that environmental responsibility is inherently at odds with productivity and, by extension, profitability. Revolutionary sustainability impact lies with green technology and breakthroughs, but 4IR transformations that leverage digital and analytics tools can augment not only green technology but also current production methods by bolstering efficiency.

The economic transformation: What would change in the net-zero transition
McKinsey Global, January 2022 (report)
An analysis exploring how a net-zero transition would entail a significant and often front-loaded shift in demand, capital allocation, costs, and jobs.

Active Carbon Management: Critical Tools in the Climate Toolbox
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, April 2022 (report)
Technologies to capture and store carbon must be part of the arsenal to fight climate change. To deploy them at scale, policymakers should expand federal incentives, increase RD&D for traditional and novel technologies, and expedite permitting and siting of requisite infrastructure.

The Future of Jobs Report 2020 
World Economic Forum, October 2020 (report)
The Future of Jobs report maps the jobs and skills of the future, tracking the pace of change. It aims to shed light on the pandemic-related disruptions in 2020, contextualized within a longer history of economic cycles and the expected outlook for technology adoption, jobs and skills in the next five years.

The future of work: Back to the office
Financial Management, December 2022 (report)
Hybrid and remote work trends and implications on management, culture, worker demands, productivity, and real estate.

Jobs of the Future: How Work Is Changing
CEO World, December 2022 (article)
Employers need to adapt to new priorities of workers in a tight labor market, including flexible schedules, hybrid work, teamwork-based tasks, and others.

IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Work 2023 Predictions
International Data Corporation, December 2022 (article)
IDC has published its top ten FOW trends across technology, work life, and social contract implications.

2023 Trends: What do experts say about the future of work?
Business Leader, December 2022 (article)
Article chronicling rapid change in the workplace and what to expect going forward, including hybrid work, hiring diversity, technology adoption, prioritizing “purpose” in the job.

Zapier report: The future of work
Zapier, May 2022 (report)
Report exploring the FOW, including remote and hybrid work, employee benefits, and hiring and retention strategies.

This is what the 4-day workweek means for equal rights, productivity and climate change
World Economic Forum, Febuary 2022 (article)
Analysis of the implications and benefits of a four-day work week related to productivity, equal rights for women, and reduction of carbon emissions.

Lifestyle Benefits: Meeting Employees’ Evolving Needs
Mercer, April 2022 (webinar)
Webinar discussing non-monetary incentives and benefits for employees, specifically different types of Lifestyle Benefits and Lifestyle Benefit Accounts, data-driven benefits strategy, health incentives.

Monopolies Are Not Taking a Fifth of Your Wages
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, May 2022 (report)
A recent Treasury report on labor market competition provided a misleading narrative about labor market concentration and its effect on workers. Labor market power is largely due to labor market frictions, not concentration. Includes policy recommendations.

The Great Resignation is becoming a “great midlife crisis”
Vox, May 2022
Higher-paid workers are increasingly quitting their jobs, as the Great Resignation with older, more tenured workers in higher-paid fields surpassing younger workers in low-paying industries (BLS data). Reasons for quitting included desire for flexibility, greater meaning.

Tight labor markets and wage growth in the current economy
Brookings, April 2022 (article)
Labor markets in the US are currently tight, and are generating substantial growth in nominal wages, yet this growth is not keeping pace with inflation. Explores how policymakers can respond to help generate more real wage growth for workers – especially for those in low-wage jobs and industries, whose real wages have been mostly stagnant for decades.

Future of Work: The Gig Economy with Ania Smith, TaskRabbit CEO
Washington Post, May 2022 (video)
Discussion with Ania Smith, TaskRabbit CEO on structural changes to the workforce in the rise of nontraditional, contract or short-term workers who make up the gig economy, and how the gig economy will shape the future of work.

Talent Will Not Be Local In The Future Of Work – Allwork.Space
AllWork, June 2022 (article)
The capability of companies to simply hire from wherever they want is currently available.  However,  there are still advantages to hiring locally for business, employees, and communities.

How The Future Of Work Suddenly Became The ‘Now’ Of Work
Forbes, December 2022 (article)
Article exploring the increasing pace of change for FOW concepts, including the pandemic, rapid pace of technological change, and workforce transformation.

Future of Work
PBS, 2021
Series of videos, documentaries and virtual conversations on topics ranging from job quality to youth and work to mental health at work.

Transatlantic Cities and the Future of Work
Las Vegas video
Orlando video
Riverside video
Bertelsmann Foundation, 2019 (website and videos)
Study and short video clips that examine the real-world ramification of the Future of Work in the three cities of Orlando, FL, Riverside, CA, and Las Vegas, NV.

Future of Work 100 Question Initiative
GovLab, 2022 (website)
Experts from around the world posit, and answer, the most pressing questions for the Future of Work.

Office of the Future of Work
State of Colorado, ongoing (website)
FOW efforts for Colorado’s Office of Future of Work, established by executive order in 2019. seeks to raise awareness about the future of work. To accomplish its goals, the office works in partnership with other state departments, convenes summits with diverse stakeholders across regions, and establishes task forces and working groups.

Future of Work Commission
State of California, ongoing (website)
The overarching goal of the Future of Work Commission is to develop a new social compact for California workers, based on an expansive vision for economic equity that takes work and jobs as the starting point. The Commission’s primary mission is to study, understand, analyze and make recommendations regarding:

• The kinds of jobs Californians could have in the decades to come.
• The impact of technology on work, workers, employers, jobs and society.
• Methods of promoting better job quality, wages and working conditions through technology.
• Modernizing worker safety net protections.

The best way to preserve good jobs, ready the workforce for jobs of the future through lifelong learning, and ensure prosperity for all.

Future of Work: Bibliography of Papers
O*NET Resource Center; U.S. Department of Labor, September 2021 (website)
Extensive collection of Future of Work literature and resources.

Center for the Future of Arizona
Center for the Future of Arizona – nonprofit, 2022 (website)
Nonprofit organization exploring future of work issues related to areas of education, workforce development, and civic health. Also operates education, workforce and civic engagement programs and monitors progress.

University of California, Irvine. Future of Work Webinar Series
University of California, Irvine, February 2022 (webinar)
Recorded webinars/ accompanying Power Point PDF presentations on (and others):

• Coping with Uncertainty in a New Normal
• Self-Compassion for Returning Back to Onsite
• Thriving in a Hybrid Work Environment

NIOSH Future of Work Webinar Series
CDC, June 2021 (webinar)
Webinar series aims to inform and engage audiences on fundamental future of work priority topics and sub-topics including:

• The Role of Technological Job Displacement in the Future of Work
• The Role of Demographics in the Future of Work
• Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Work
• Role of Organizational Design in the Future of Work

Why the post-COVID-19 economic recovery can’t be about ‘growth at all costs’
McKinsey Global, April 2022 (podcast)
The pandemic spurred rapid changes in how consumers and companies behave. How can this new moment create an opportunity for sustainable and inclusive growth? Podcast explores issues including the new economic and workforce landscape, what sustainable, inclusive growth looks like, and how to attain it.

The Problem with Blaming Robots for Taking Our Jobs
The New Yorker, May 2022 (article)
What are the ramifications of greater automation in the future: robots stealing our jobs leaving behind some segments of society, or a more efficient world freeing humans to become more fulfilled? When examining the Future of Work and automation, futurists and policy makers need to examine not just the how, but the why.

Future of Work
World Economic Forum, May 2022 (website)
Collection of videos, interviews, reports and articles exploring aspects of the Future of Work including: 5 traits of the Workforce of the Future, Jobs of the Future, and Future of Work for persons with disabilities.

Adapt Or Die. In The New World Of Work, It’s More Than A Nifty Slogan
Forbes, June 2022 (interview)
Interview with the authors of Competing in the New World of Work discussing issues including new opportunities in the workplace, disruption to traditional workplaces, and “radical adaptability” in an uncertain future.

The workers getting 100% pay for 80% of the hours – BBC News
BBC, June 2022 (article)
Thousands of UK workers are starting a four-day week trial starting in June. About 70 companies are taking part in what is thought to be the world’s biggest pilot scheme into the working pattern over the next six months.

COVID-19 Pandemic and the Future of Work
C-SPAN, May 2022 (video)
Pew Charitable Trusts’ Stateline executive editor Scott Greenberger talked about Pew’s research into how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the nature of work in the U.S. and how cities and states are adjusting

MIT Sloan Strategies for Leading the Future of WorkLeading the Future of Work: Online Short Course
MIT Management Executive Education, 2022

New Federal Investments in Digital Equity: What Skills Advocates Need to Know
National Skills Coalition, 2021

Future of Work Resources
University of California, Irvine, 2022

Future of Work Community Screenings Toolkit 
PBS, 2022

Innovation Training for the Future of Work and FOW Workshops
Innovation Training, 2022

Future of Work Online Training Course
Vubiz, 2022

MIT Sloan Strategies for Leading the Future of Work
MIT Sloan School of Management, 2022

Future of Work Grand Challenge
Jobs for the Future, 2022

Future of Work
CBRE, 2022