The future of work: part 1

In the early to mid-1990s, changes in technology, work organizations and the "new" forms of work, such as home-working and tele-commuting rekindled interest in the future of work. There are a number of Web sites that were developed at that time and many still have relevance, while others are somewhat dated. There are however, more recently developed sites reflecting theoretical perspectives and robust projects and research activities, that examine the social, industrial and change management implications related to the future of work. There are also a number of sites that examine practical, industrial and ethical issues relating to changes in work organization. Learning and development practitioners, policy makers and researchers cannot ignore these contextual factors that influence workplace learning and need an understanding of the tools that may help workers find a satisfying pathway through career challenges. This editorial has been divided into two parts. This first part examines some theoretical considerations regarding the future of work and presents some more scholarly sites on the topic. The second part will appear in the next issue of the Journal of Workplace Learning.