Twenty-first century automation is fueling an ongoing debate around the future of work. Is the end to human labor around the corner? Will robots replace us? The short answer is no. The longer answer is that work is changing fast and will likely require the capacity to adapt and constant upgrading of skills.

In this episode of "Hardly Working", I was joined by Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation to discuss what automation means for work. We discussed his most recent book Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines, the connection between education and employment, the value of human abilities, and what the future workforce may look like and require of us. 

Mentioned During the Episode: 

Jamie Merisotis’s Website 

Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines

American Needs Talent

Twitter: @jamiemerisotis 

Lumina Foundation Website

On Automation of Repetitive Tasks

Minding Our Workforce: The Role of Noncognitive Skills in Career Success

On Technology Creating Jobs

Brent Orrell on the Real Value of Work

Brent Orrell on “Soft Skills” and University Education

Ken Goldberg on Human-Machine Complementarity

Jamie Merisotis on Human Work

Hardly Working on Restoring the Dignity to Work

Gallup Poll on Work That Matters

James Merisotis On Universal basic income

On the Garbage Collector Staying Optimistic During COVID-19

NY Times on Home Care Aides During COVID-19

Photo of Domino’s Pizza Workers in Texas

Jamie Merisotis on Hybrid Work Models

James Meristis on Preparing People for Career Adjacency 

Rachel Lipson and David Demming on Worker Transitions

Lumina Foundation on Credentials and Pathways

Fed Chair Jerome Powell Speech on the Labor Market

On Northern European Models for Retraining

AEI on Workforce Recovery from COVID

IBM on Soft Skills