Future of Work poster

TV series

Future of Work

20211 season

Explore monumental changes in the workplace and the long-term impact on workers, employers, educators and communities. Employment is part of the American Dream. Will the future provide opportunities for jobs that sustain families and the nation?

Availability

Not streaming in United States

Checked Jul 22, 2026

Future of Work premiered September 1, 2021. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

Synopsis

Explore monumental changes in the workplace and the long-term impact on workers, employers, educators and communities. Employment is part of the American Dream. Will the future provide opportunities for jobs that sustain families and the nation?

Season 1 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

Episode 1

The New Industrial Revolution

In addition to illuminating the ongoing drivers for disruptions to the world of work – AI, robotics, platform technology, globalization, labor practices -- the pandemic has been a driver of change. Unemployment flipped from lowest in 50 years to highest in a century.

Where to watch Future of Work

Episode 2

Futureproof

Frontline and service workers have borne the health consequences of the pandemic, increasing racial and economic disparities. Certain robotic and AI applications are accelerating as the value of human workers is further questioned. Determining the likely areas of job growth and training needs is difficult. Post-secondary education has become more virtual and its costs, more controversial.

Episode credits

Directed by Llewellyn M. Smith

Where to watch Future of Work

Episode 3

Changing Work, Changing Workers

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Companies rethink the need to even have offices, or how to redesign places of work. The traditional work shift - 9-5, 5 days a week – is losing relevance. Many companies are adopting the remote work models, spawned by the pandemic, as their new normal. The sense of precariousness and fear increases for many. Workers are demoralized, lonely, frightened and don’t know how to prepare for the future. Does the nation need new policies of Guaranteed Basic Income, (UBI) or a drastic rethinking of the social safety nets? Are we facing a post-work era, or an increased inequity in how we make our livings?

Where to watch Future of Work

Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026

More about Future of Work

Cast

Nkeki Obi-MelekweNarrator

Credits

Created by
Denise DiIanni

Production details

Status
Returning Series
Series type
Documentary
Episodes
3
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • PBSUnited States

Themes

automationemploymentjobs