The world of work is undergoing a profound transformation. A key driver is technological change and, in particular, digitalization. The emergence of new organizational forms such as platforms and the automation and networking of work processes are changing industrial and service work. Digitalization is reinforcing long-standing processes of globalization by facilitating the management of globally distributed, fragmented and mobile work. In the context of digitalization, global competition for control of digital technologies is also intensifying, particularly between Europe, North America and Asia. All this affects the world of work and its institutions such as, for instance, the interest representation of workers.

Against this background, the research group addresses the following overarching research questions:

(1) What forms of automation and digitalization of work can be observed and how do they affect work processes, employment, and industrial relations?

(2) How does technological change affect the global competition and division of labor, in particular between high-wage and low-wage countries?

(3) How do the new organizational models of platform-based work affect work processes, employment, and industrial relations?

(4) Which forms of public and private regulation of labor standards are emerging?

The research approach is characterized by the focus on the firm and industry level as well as a international comparative orientation with a focus on Europe, North America as well as the emerging economies, especially Eastern Europe and China.