We are a group of interdisciplinary researchers based at the University of Melbourne, who work together create impactful research about the future of work. Our research backgrounds span sociology, organisation studies, law, indigenous studies, computer science, human geography, and health.
Our why
Work as we know it, the nine-to-five, standard form of employment with fair working conditions, has become the exception rather than the norm. In its place, precarious and uncertain work has emerged as technologies like artificial intelligence, automation and the digital platform economy are displacing workers, disrupting workplaces, and irrevocably changing peoples’ working lives. Our interdisciplinary team of researchers aims to understand the sociological impact of technology - the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Our work
Through our work we aim to:
add insightful and impactful research to the debate on the future of work
broaden and deepen collaborations between academia and our partners to generate new knowledge that has real world impact
foster a network of next-generation scholars on work futures
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This research provides key insights into how technology is reshaping work, work opportunities, and work organisation. We explore how the adoption of automation and artificial intelligence and the movement towards greater gig work by industry are impacting the future of work. We investigate how emerging technologies are positioned to disrupt employment in Australia to understand which industries are closest to major employment changes and how these technological changes intersect with spatial and social determinants of work.
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This research investigates the changing distribution of work across Australia. We focus on how the remote work revolution has decoupled work from a physical location, and what this means for where we chose to live and engage with work. We also explore whether existing policies and legal frameworks are able to adequately address the changing needs of the Australian workforce and employers.
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The changes associated with the future of work will have disparate impacts across different groups of the population. This research explores the intersections of race, gender, education, class, and indigeneity in the digital and spatial distribution of work. We aim to deepen our understanding of how changes in technologies and infrastructure will differently impact specific populations, with a particular focus on priority cohorts.