The work ahead : machines, skills, and U.S. leadership in the twenty-first century / John Engler and Penny Pritzker,

Chairs ; Edward Alden, Project Director ; Laura Taylor-Kale, Deputy Project Director.

Contents: Findings: Technology and work -- Innovation and competitiveness -- Growth and income -- Education, training, and the labor market -- Transition assistance -- Barriers to employment -- Support for work in the New Economy -- Next steps : building the foundation for a stronger United States --
Recommendations: Create better work opportunities in the face of technological change -- Maintain U.S. technological leadership -- Boost growth and income -- Strengthen the link between education and work -- Overhaul transition assistance for workers -- Remove barriers to opportunity -- Overhaul support for work -- Next steps : launch a national dialogue on the workforce of the future.

Summary: The nature of work is undergoing a fundamental shift, one largely brought about by new technologies including but not limited to artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. In the process, jobs will be both eliminated and created. For the United States, this is something of a mixed blessing. With the world's most innovative economy, the country is well positioned to exploit (in the best sense) the promise of new technologies and their applications. At the same time, it is painfully clear that American society is ill prepared for this technological transformation because educational opportunity and attainment vary widely and work is the basis for much of a citizen's income, benefits, and, in many cases, self-esteem. The report of this Independent Task Force rightly focuses on the need to rebuild the links among work, opportunity, and economic security for Americans. It puts forward a number of policy prescriptions for government, business, educators, and nongovernmental institutions.