The Transformation of Work in America: New Health Vulnerabilities for American Workers

Abstract

The plate tectonics of work in the United States have shifted in the last 30 years, causing changes in the risks and vulnerabilities of worker health. The introduction of information technology in its various forms, the globalization of economies, changes in the nature of the employment contract between employers and workers, the emergence of the service economy, and the entry of women into the workforce all have affected the dynamics of working life for Americans. This chapter explores these changes and the ways they are consequential for the health and well-being of American workers and their families.