Next generation work

Focus Research projects Tools & Publications Partners Team

Working longer, robotization, digitization, computerization, changing demands and standards of employees etc. The current labor model is constantly changing. This presents organizations, employees and society as a whole with major challenges.

In the context of “Future of work”, we carry out research and give advice on challenges of the labor market, labor organization, social dialogue, the future of jobs, sustainable HRM and sustainable careers. Together with our partners, we develop a sustainable vision on the future of work, focusing on the importance of co-creation and taking into account the vision of all stakeholders. The individual/employee, the team, the organization and the broader ecosystem are all addressed. Through state-of-the-art academic and practical scientific research in collaboration with various partners and stakeholders, we arrive at practical recommendations and solutions to meet the challenges of the future labor market.

We celebrated 10 Years of Sustainable Careers

The chair ‘SD Worx/Next generation work: Creating sustainable careers’ is a cooperation between Antwerp Management School and SD Worx. Via research among organizations and employees, we look at the dimensions of a sustainable career policy: a policy which contributes to company results and facilitates sustainable staff employability.

On May 10th, we celebrated 10 years of collaboration by means of an exciting and interactive program. We brought you our key insights and had discussions with international thought leaders on how we can strengthen the sustainable connection between talent and work in a dynamic labor market in the coming years.

Read the '10 Stories on 10 Years of Creating Sustainable Careers'

Overall research topics

Sustainable employability

Automation, digitization, globalization: varying trends in the VUCA (Volatile-Uncertain-Complex-Ambiguous) world are changing our jobs and the way we work. This means that organizations and employees need different expertise and skills to keep up with this changing world. Sustainable employability and inclusion are thus more important than ever, so we can meet the challenges of the future.

Sustainable careers

Career policy is no longer about a static matching of employees with jobs, but rather about a dynamic approach to change, focusing on workability, employability, growth and connection in the short and long term. A successful and sustainable career policy ensures that employees and organizations reinforce each other. In addition, we need to be aware of the ever growing flexible and hybrid nature of careers, including topics such as freelance careers, managing ‘flexible talent’ and ‘co-sourcing’.

Within the chair 'Next generation work: Creating sustainable careers', AMS - in close cooperation with SDWorkx - conducts extensive research into sustainable careers.

Sustainable HR

Sustainable HR is always looking for a win-win for both the organization and the employee. Highly relevant topics in this context include workable work, Innovative Labor Organization, sustainable social dialog and flexible working.

April 14, 2023

by Engelina Chaillet, Kirsten Vanderplanken, PhD, Peggy De Prins, PhD

Dark sides of learning on the work floor

Lifelong learning is important, but we encounter obstacles or dark sides here, such as high work pressure and stress when pursuing new knowledge and skills. Training often comes 'on top of' and can exacerbate this stress and sometimes lead to stagnation, causing us to no longer stay current. ...