Future of work

The world of work in Canada and other industrialized countries is undergoing rapid transformation. Major forces driving change include digital technologies, artificial intelligence, climate change, demographic shifts and more. This change may bring far-reaching social, political and economic consequences for a generation of workers. IWH researchers are exploring the emerging issues posed by some of these trends—on health and safety, on work inequities, and on the inclusion of marginalized groups in the future of work—and seeking policy, system and workplace actions that can be implemented now to help ensure a healthy and inclusive future for all.

Featured

IWH Speaker Series

Surveying the landscape for AI use in occupational health and safety in Ontario and British Columbia

Published: March 25, 2025

Colourful lines and dots interspersed with zeros and ones

Research Highlights

Which workers and jobs will be most affected by machine learning?

Machine learning is being adopted by more and more Canadian workplaces. Given this technology’s ability to learn, adapt and generate work outputs, it also has the potential to perform job tasks in place of humans. But which workers might be most affected by the use of machine learning?

Published: November 15, 2024

IWH in the media

The future of work will hit vulnerable people the hardest

A great deal of attention is being paid to the future of work and its impact on Canadians. Often missing from the discussion is the extent to which different workers will be included or excluded from the changing labour market. As the pace of change quickens in the years ahead, the sustainable employment of vulnerable groups could be in greater jeopardy and inequity could widen, writes Dr. Arif Jetha.

Published: The Conversation, March 2020

Project

Future-proofing young Canadians with disabilities for the changing labour market

This study systematically examines the future of work as it relates to young people with disabilities, with the aim of anticipating the work and labour market changes that will affect their inclusion and success in the future of work.

Status: Ongoing

Abstract image of one open door, flanked by many closed doors

At Work article

Benefits outweigh costs for workplaces that accommodate people with mental illness

For employers, the economic benefits of hiring and accommodating workers with mental illnesses range from two to seven dollars for every dollar spent. That's according to a new study on the business case of accommodating mental illnesses.

Published: July 2018

Journal article

Scoping review of work disability policies and programs

Published: International Journal of Disability Management, January 2017

At Work article

New research centre to examine work disability policy in Canada

The Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy, led by two IWH scientists, aims to improve how people with disability are supported in the labour market

Published: February 2014

IWH Speaker Series

Income security and labour-market engagement: Envisioning the future of work disability policy in Canada

In this plenary IWH senior scientists Drs. Emile Tompa and Ellen MacEachen describe the new Centre for Research in Work Disability Policy, recently launched to address work disability policy challenges through a seven-year SSHRC Partners grant. They describe the centre’s mandate and how it's organized to create a new generation of research on work disability policy.