The Future of Work
The future of work
The global pandemic changed the way we work and how our workplaces function. Our experts investigate what changes may be here to stay and what else to expect in the future.
The future is calling
Work is beginning to look very different across all fields and around the globe.
Offices
Will we all go back? Will they ever be the same?
Teachers
What can we learn from the pandemic?
Internships
How can we make them more equitable?
Physicians
What will digital health care look like?
Farmers
Can technology help farmers connect to their customers?
Workspaces
Is the open office a thing of the past?
Job skills
Which skills have staying power in this rapidly changing market?
Global talent
How do you attract talent from around the world?
Legal professionals
Will online litigation help our clogged courts?
What is
“The Great Resignation”?
Harvard economist Lawrence Katz explains some of the factors that led to the highest quit rate in US history.
Well-being at work
Business owners, employees, and researchers are looking at ways to make workplaces safer and healthier.
Predictable scheduling
Requiring more notice in scheduling for hourly workers results in more predictable shifts and increased stability for workers, which also leads to improvements in worker well-being, sleep quality, and economic security.
Air quality
The air quality in an office can have significant impacts on employees’ cognitive function, including response times and ability to focus, and it may also affect their productivity, according to new research.
Worker safety and health
COVID-19 forced companies to act quickly and decisively to keep workers safe, and employers have had to adapt new business processes and address existing structures that are lacking.
Flexibility
While working from home, employees have enjoyed an unprecedented sense of agency and autonomy. Contrary to some expectations—but consistent with years of research—that flexibility has actually spurred worker productivity to improve.
How can AI help you?
AI and automation are already streamlining some industries, but we still don’t understand all of the benefits and dangers.
Zoom out
For a broader view on workplace innovations, explore the work of our experts from a variety of institutes and centers including:
Harvard Business School
Managing the future of work
Co-chaired by William R. Kerr and Joseph B. Fuller, this project explores solutions and adaptations to rapid technological change, shifting global product and labor markets, evolving regulatory regimes, outsourcing, and the fast emergence of the gig economy.
Harvard Kennedy School
Reimagine the world of work
Experts investigate ways to help workers gain new skills, get companies to drop outdated practices, and other forward thinking ideas.
Graduate School of Education
Reshaping work
Experts discuss how the pandemic is altering jobs and careers and how education can respond.