The Future of Work

Name: The Future of Work
Author: Darrell M. West

Darrell M. West

Understand how AI and automation are reshaping work—and what governments, businesses, and workers must do to build a fairer future.

19 min7 Chapters

Listen to the intro

1:08

Business & Career

Science & Technology

Outline

What's it about?

The Future of Work (2018) examines how robots, artificial intelligence, and automation are transforming jobs and the economy. Darrell M. West explains how these technologies could reduce employment in many fields, widen inequality, and strain social safety nets built around full-time jobs. The book proposes policy ideas such as lifelong learning, new forms of benefits, and a broader definition of work to help societies adapt.

Key ideas

Robots, artificial intelligence, and automation are changing jobs and the wider economy, not just a few isolated industries.
These technologies could reduce the number of jobs available in many fields.
Automation may widen inequality between those who benefit from new technology and those who lose work to it.
Social safety nets built around full-time jobs come under strain when fewer people hold such jobs.
The book proposes lifelong learning, new forms of benefits, and a broader definition of work to help societies adapt.

About the author

Darrell M. West is an American political scientist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he has led research on governance and technology innovation. He previously taught at Brown University. He has written many books on technology, politics, and public policy, including The Future of Work and Turning Point.

Questions people ask

What is The Future of Work by Darrell M. West about?

It examines how robots, artificial intelligence, and automation are transforming jobs and the economy. It also sets out what governments, businesses, and workers can do to build a fairer future.

Who should read The Future of Work?

It suits anyone curious about how AI and automation could affect careers, from workers and managers to people interested in business, technology, and public policy.

How long is the Durar summary of The Future of Work?

The Durar summary takes about 15 minutes to read or listen to. It covers the book's main argument about automation, inequality, and the policy ideas West proposes.