Technology, institutions, and the future of work: Retail jobs and beyond

Abstract

New applications of digital technologies are transforming a broad swathe of jobs. They do so in a context of distinct national (and supra- and sub-national) labour relations institutions, and amidst changes in those institutions. This talk will combine insights from an in-depth study of how technology is transforming retail jobs in the US, with broader observations on how technological and institutional shifts are reshaping work, separately and in interaction with each other. These patterns point to a pessimistic outlook for the future of work, but one that is contingent on agency by a variety of political and economic actors.

Speaker

Chris Tilly is Professor of Urban Planning and Sociology at UCLA. He holds a joint PhD in Economics and Urban Studies and Planning from MIT. For over 30 years, Professor Tilly has conducted research on bad jobs and how to make them better. His books include Half a Job: Bad and Good Part‑Time Jobs in a Changing Labor Market, Stories Employers Tell: Race, Skills, and Hiring in America, The Gloves-Off Economy: Labor Standards at the Bottom of America's Labor Market, and Are Bad Jobs Inevitable?  His current research includes ongoing examination of how implementation of digital technologies is transforming US retail jobs, as well as separate research on informal worker organising around the world. Prior to becoming an academic, he spent seven years doing labor and community organising.">