– “Are you prepared for the future of work?”

This is the question addressed in the July 2017 issue of the Deloitte University Press Review, studying trends that are shaping the future of work – from new talent models, cognitive tools and augmented reality, to the gig economy and more – and how companies and employees alike can take action to define what’s next.

“Future of Work” refers to constantly evolving and adapting to disruptions, uncertainties and expectations that not only impact the business world, but how we approach our everyday lives.

The Deloitte publication features ten articles and interviews discussing how business can adapt to pressing challenges such as the gig economy, richer knowledge flows, and the future of schools; and includes the following pieces:

• “More real than reality: Transforming work through augmented reality” – How augmented reality may help by overlaying digital data onto the real world to give workers immediate access to relevant information.
• “Meet the U.S. workforce of the future: Older, more diverse and more educated” – In a context of changing demographics, what the U.S. workforce of the future will look like, and what this could mean for decision makers across the globe.
• “Tech fluency: A foundation of future careers” – Without a strong foundation of knowledge about technology in the workplace, workers will likely find it harder to contribute to enterprise value—and to grow professionally.
• “The rise of cognitive work (re)design: Applying cognitive tools to knowledge-based work” – Cognitive technologies and business process re-engineering could reinforce each other, but that requires organizations to redesign their processes with cognitive technologies’ specific capabilities in mind.
• “Reconstructing work: Automation, artificial intelligence, and the essential role of humans” – Is there a way to rethink the concept of “work” that makes humans essential and allows them to take fuller advantage of their uniquely human abilities?
• “Beyond office walls and balance sheets: Culture and the alternative workforce” – How can leaders bring independent contractors, telecommuters, and gig workers into their organization’s culture if many of the traditional levers do not apply?
• “Making the future of mobility work: How the new transportation ecosystem could reshape jobs and employment” – Widespread ridesharing, autonomous vehicles, and the integration of different modes of transportation will impact occupations of all sort, from truck drivers to elder care professionals.