We explore how significant future changes—especially those related to technology, demographics, and our physical environment—will impact workers and our economy, and how these changes are interdependent with our beliefs
Our logo represents labor through the 'L' shape, anchored by technology at its center and interconnected with demography and our physical environment—illustrating how labor is influenced by these interrelated forces. The gradient orb symbolizes the beliefs and perceptions people hold about these factors, shaping individual behaviors and policy preferences.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are set to profoundly reshape labor productivity, employment, and inequality. The design and implementation of these technologies, along with their interaction with humans, carry significant socio-economic and political implications. Simultaneously, AI's expansion is driving increased energy demand while human footprints evolve due to demographic trends such as aging populations and declining fertility rates.
The Future of Labor Lab investigates how technological shifts, alongside demographic change and escalating energy demand, will redefine the nature of work, transform organizations, influence inequality, and reshape governance. The Lab is directed by Prof. Yong Suk Lee at the University of Notre Dame and our work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab, Keough School of Global Affairs, and McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business.