Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work: A global systems perspective

Andrew Thatcher; Augustine Appah Acquah; Agnès Aublet-Cuvelier; Rob Becker; Tim Bentley; Maria Elena Boatca; Daniel Braatz; Hong In Cheng; Fabien Coutarel; Somnath Gangopadhyay; Nicola Green; Nigel Heaton; Hongwei Hsiao; Liang Ma; Masaaki Mochimaru; Beata Mrugalska; Verena Nitsch; Paulo Antonio Barros Oliveira; Taezoon Park; Arto Reiman; Yordán Rodriguez; Gary Roth; Urmi Ravindra Salve; Rosemary Seva; Anita Tisch; Andrew Todd; Yaniel Torres; Yoshiko Yagi; Shanqing Yin; Wei Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665

Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work: A global systems perspective

Andrew Thatcher
, Augustine Appah Acquah
, Agnès Aublet-Cuvelier
, Rob Becker
, Tim Bentley
, Maria Elena Boatca
, Daniel Braatz
, Hong In Cheng
, Fabien Coutarel
, Somnath Gangopadhyay
, Nicola Green
, Nigel Heaton
, Hongwei Hsiao
, Liang Ma
, Masaaki Mochimaru
, Beata Mrugalska
, Verena Nitsch
, Paulo Antonio Barros Oliveira
, Taezoon Park
, Arto Reiman

Yordán Rodriguez, Gary Roth, Urmi Ravindra Salve, Rosemary Seva, Anita Tisch, Andrew Todd, Yaniel Torres, Yoshiko Yagi, Shanqing Yin, Wei Zhang

Department of Physiotherapy

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Institut national de recherche et de sécurité
User Centric Design
Edith Cowan University
Politehnica University of Timisoara
Universidade Federal de São Carlos
Kyungsung University
Université Clermont Auvergne
University of Calcutta
Massey University
Human Applications
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Tsinghua University
University of Tokyo
Poznań University of Technology
RWTH Aachen University
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Soongsil University
University Of Oulu
Universidad de Antioquia
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
De La Salle University-Manila
University of Bonn
Rhodes University
Itoki Corporation
KK Women's And Children's Hospital

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In a webinar series hosted by the International Ergonomics Association, the Future of Work Committee of the International Ergonomics Association gathered inputs about the future of work from ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) experts representing different regions around the world. Through these insights, four global megatrends relevant to E/HF driving the future of work were identified: labour-market supply; work informality; technology; and climate change. Next, we applied an E/HF systems approach, using causal loop diagrams, to explore the unfolding interrelationships between these megatrends at a global level and with a national level example to determine what novel insights can be uncovered using systems analysis. We demonstrate the power of E/HF systems thinking that can enable national E/HF societies and regional think-tanks to move beyond a siloed approach to megatrends. We conclude with some high-level suggestions for E/HF to consider in order to meet the future of work challenges.

Original language	English
Article number	104665
Journal	Applied Ergonomics
Volume	131
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665
Publication status	Published - Feb 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Artificial intelligence
Climate change
Informal work

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10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665

Cite this

Thatcher, A., Acquah, A. A., Aublet-Cuvelier, A., Becker, R., Bentley, T., Boatca, M. E., Braatz, D., Cheng, H. I., Coutarel, F., Gangopadhyay, S., Green, N., Heaton, N., Hsiao, H., Ma, L., Mochimaru, M., Mrugalska, B., Nitsch, V., Oliveira, P. A. B., Park, T., ... Zhang, W. (2026). Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work: A global systems perspective. Applied Ergonomics, 131, Article 104665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665

@article{e43e30a6116a40528441cc43eb37df79,

title = "Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work: A global systems perspective",

abstract = "In a webinar series hosted by the International Ergonomics Association, the Future of Work Committee of the International Ergonomics Association gathered inputs about the future of work from ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) experts representing different regions around the world. Through these insights, four global megatrends relevant to E/HF driving the future of work were identified: labour-market supply; work informality; technology; and climate change. Next, we applied an E/HF systems approach, using causal loop diagrams, to explore the unfolding interrelationships between these megatrends at a global level and with a national level example to determine what novel insights can be uncovered using systems analysis. We demonstrate the power of E/HF systems thinking that can enable national E/HF societies and regional think-tanks to move beyond a siloed approach to megatrends. We conclude with some high-level suggestions for E/HF to consider in order to meet the future of work challenges.",

keywords = "Artificial intelligence, Climate change, Informal work",

author = "Andrew Thatcher and Acquah, \{Augustine Appah\} and Agn{\`e}s Aublet-Cuvelier and Rob Becker and Tim Bentley and Boatca, \{Maria Elena\} and Daniel Braatz and Cheng, \{Hong In\} and Fabien Coutarel and Somnath Gangopadhyay and Nicola Green and Nigel Heaton and Hongwei Hsiao and Liang Ma and Masaaki Mochimaru and Beata Mrugalska and Verena Nitsch and Oliveira, \{Paulo Antonio Barros\} and Taezoon Park and Arto Reiman and Yord{\'a}n Rodriguez and Gary Roth and Salve, \{Urmi Ravindra\} and Rosemary Seva and Anita Tisch and Andrew Todd and Yaniel Torres and Yoshiko Yagi and Shanqing Yin and Wei Zhang",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors.",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665",

language = "English",

volume = "131",

journal = "Applied Ergonomics",

issn = "0003-6870",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

Thatcher, A, Acquah, AA, Aublet-Cuvelier, A, Becker, R, Bentley, T, Boatca, ME, Braatz, D, Cheng, HI, Coutarel, F, Gangopadhyay, S, Green, N, Heaton, N, Hsiao, H, Ma, L, Mochimaru, M, Mrugalska, B, Nitsch, V, Oliveira, PAB, Park, T, Reiman, A, Rodriguez, Y, Roth, G, Salve, UR, Seva, R, Tisch, A, Todd, A, Torres, Y, Yagi, Y, Yin, S & Zhang, W 2026, 'Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work: A global systems perspective', Applied Ergonomics, vol. 131, 104665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work

T2 - A global systems perspective

AU - Thatcher, Andrew

AU - Acquah, Augustine Appah

AU - Aublet-Cuvelier, Agnès

AU - Becker, Rob

AU - Bentley, Tim

AU - Boatca, Maria Elena

AU - Braatz, Daniel

AU - Cheng, Hong In

AU - Coutarel, Fabien

AU - Gangopadhyay, Somnath

AU - Green, Nicola

AU - Heaton, Nigel

AU - Hsiao, Hongwei

AU - Ma, Liang

AU - Mochimaru, Masaaki

AU - Mrugalska, Beata

AU - Nitsch, Verena

AU - Oliveira, Paulo Antonio Barros

AU - Park, Taezoon

AU - Reiman, Arto

AU - Rodriguez, Yordán

AU - Roth, Gary

AU - Salve, Urmi Ravindra

AU - Seva, Rosemary

AU - Tisch, Anita

AU - Todd, Andrew

AU - Torres, Yaniel

AU - Yagi, Yoshiko

AU - Yin, Shanqing

AU - Zhang, Wei

PY - 2026/2

Y1 - 2026/2

N2 - In a webinar series hosted by the International Ergonomics Association, the Future of Work Committee of the International Ergonomics Association gathered inputs about the future of work from ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) experts representing different regions around the world. Through these insights, four global megatrends relevant to E/HF driving the future of work were identified: labour-market supply; work informality; technology; and climate change. Next, we applied an E/HF systems approach, using causal loop diagrams, to explore the unfolding interrelationships between these megatrends at a global level and with a national level example to determine what novel insights can be uncovered using systems analysis. We demonstrate the power of E/HF systems thinking that can enable national E/HF societies and regional think-tanks to move beyond a siloed approach to megatrends. We conclude with some high-level suggestions for E/HF to consider in order to meet the future of work challenges.

AB - In a webinar series hosted by the International Ergonomics Association, the Future of Work Committee of the International Ergonomics Association gathered inputs about the future of work from ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) experts representing different regions around the world. Through these insights, four global megatrends relevant to E/HF driving the future of work were identified: labour-market supply; work informality; technology; and climate change. Next, we applied an E/HF systems approach, using causal loop diagrams, to explore the unfolding interrelationships between these megatrends at a global level and with a national level example to determine what novel insights can be uncovered using systems analysis. We demonstrate the power of E/HF systems thinking that can enable national E/HF societies and regional think-tanks to move beyond a siloed approach to megatrends. We conclude with some high-level suggestions for E/HF to consider in order to meet the future of work challenges.

KW - Artificial intelligence

KW - Climate change

KW - Informal work

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105022181592

U2 - 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665

DO - 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104665

M3 - Article

C2 - 41138509

AN - SCOPUS:105022181592

SN - 0003-6870

VL - 131

JO - Applied Ergonomics

JF - Applied Ergonomics

M1 - 104665

ER -

Ergonomics/human factors and the future of work: A global systems perspective

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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