Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work: A global systems perspective
In a webinar series hosted by the International Ergonomics Association, the Future of Work Committee of the International Ergonomics Association gathered inputs about the future of work from ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) experts representing different regions around the world. Through these insights, four global megatrends relevant to E/HF driving the future of work were identified: labour-market supply; work informality; technology; and climate change. Next, we applied an E/HF systems approach, using causal loop diagrams, to explore the unfolding interrelationships between these megatrends at a global level and with a national level example to determine what novel insights can be uncovered using systems analysis. We demonstrate the power of E/HF systems thinking that can enable national E/HF societies and regional think-tanks to move beyond a siloed approach to megatrends. We conclude with some high-level suggestions for E/HF to consider in order to meet the future of work challenges.
Authors
- Beata Mrugalska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9827-9449)
- Fabien Coutarel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8537-8664)
- Nicola Green (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6396-9968)
- Tim Bentley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4721-8405)
- Gary A. Roth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8717-2563)
- Arto Reiman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1480-5462)
- Rosemary R. Seva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6971-3012)
- Anita Tisch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0511-8828)
- Nigel Heaton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3462-2188)
- Andrew Thatcher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5342-980X)
- Liang Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9422-814X)
- Urmi Ravindra Salve (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8412-8129)
- Augustine A. Acquah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5512-2484)
- Yoshiko Yagi
- Agnès Aublet‐Cuvelier
- Somnath Gangopadhyay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2737-5836)
- Andrew Todd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2286-434X)
- Daniel Braatz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5769-9666)
- Masaaki Mochimaru (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4147-853X)
- Yordán Rodríguez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0079-4336)
- Verena Nitsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4784-1283)
- Yaniel Torres (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9825-9437)
- Paulo Antônio Barros Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2896-2768)
- Wei Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8208-3342)
- Hong-In Cheng
- Shanqing Yin
- Maria Elena Boatcă (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3317-2445)
- Hongwei Hsiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2201-760X)
- Taezoon Park
- Robert J. Becker
Institutions
- University of Calcutta (IN)
- Kyungsung University (KR)
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IN)
- University of Ghana (GH)
- Soongsil University (KR)
- Loughborough University (GB)
- Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (DE)
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos (BR)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US)
- Rhodes University (ZA)
- Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (GH)
- Polytechnic University of Timişoara (RO)
- Universidad de Antioquia (CO)
- Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital (GB)
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital (SG)
- Clermont Université (FR)
- Nihon Medi-Physics (Japan) (JP)
- Poznań University of Technology (PL)
- Massey University (NZ)
- De La Salle University (PH)
- National Research Institute of Police Science (JP)
- Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (FR)
- RWTH Aachen University (DE)
- Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (US)
- University of Oulu (FI)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Applied Ergonomics
- Published
- 2025-10-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Ergonomics and Human Factors
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.67