Within the context of technological transition, there are many factors beyond an individual’s control which determine their ability to be and do what they desire. Our choices and opportunities are often subject to the choices of institutions and policies around us, which can differ significantly across the country.

The Review will explore the following in relation to the worker themselves:

1. Choice and opportunity: whether a particular policy, or socioeconomic context, constrains or enables people to live the kind of life they want to live, as opposed to whether the intervention led to some outcome determined by the researcher or policy maker.

2. Identity: the implications of automation technologies on the identities of workers and how this is changing due to the current transition.

3. Skills, education, and training: as skills requirements change, workers are required to learn new and higher-level skills. Skills need to be learned at work, but as many workers are now facing higher risk of unemployment, the impact of the skills friction is exacerbated. Education and retraining offers, welfare support, and social services provide resources which individuals can harness and turn into functionings. Decisions made by local institutions and policymakers will shape these opportunities.