The Future of Work Series on WXXI-TV

Future of Work Broadcast 3-Part Series on PBS

 Since early 2020, the world has been rocked by triple crises: the global pandemic, the ensuing economic disruptions, and the acknowledgement of long-existing racial inequities. With U.S. unemployment sky-high, a majority of Americans are concerned about the future. The usual ladders to security - education, hard work, life-long employment - appear to have broken down.

Future of Work is a three-part series exploring monumental changes in the workplace and the long-term impact on workers, employers, educators, and communities. PBS Premieres Sept 1, 10pm-11pm (September 8 and 15^th Is the promise of employment–part of the American Dream–still the future of work? Website: Future of Work https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/future-of-work/

Watch Episode 1 On-Demand (Through 9/29/21)

Watch Episdoe 2 On-Demand (Through 10/6/21)

Watch Episdoe 3 On-Demand (Through 10/13/21)

Also join us for 8 national virtual events to discuss the Future of Work issues! Learn more & register here. 

See A Preview

With U.S. unemployment sky-high, a majority of Americans are concerned about the future. Since early 2020, the world has been rocked by triple crises: the global pandemic, the ensuing economic disruptions, and the fore fronting of long-existing racial inequities. U.S. unemployment was at a rate not seen for more than a century. A majority of Americans now report economic distress and concern about the future for themselves and their families. The usual ladders to security–education, hard work, life-long employment–appear to have broken down. Future of Work Preview 7/27/2021 Future of Work https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/future-of-work/ 3/6 These realities are not distributed equally; many high-earning white-collar workers stay employed virtually. Frontline and service workers, disproportionally people of color and recent immigrants, have been hit hardest by Covid-19 and the ensuing economic hardships.

 Is the U.S. about to enter a future of entrenched haves and have-nots? With education becoming virtual, long-standing debates about the value of post-secondary schooling and training programs are creating more uncertainty about how to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. How do we protect and preserve opportunities for work that sustains families, communities, and the nation–a fundamental aspect of the American Dream?

EPISODES 1: THE NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AIRING SEPT 1, 2021, 10-11 PM on WXXI-TV

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.

EPISODE 2: FUTUREPROOFING AIRING SEPT 8, 2021, 10-11 PM on WXXI-TV

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 3: CHANGING WORK, CHANGING WORKERS AIRING SEPT 15, 2021, 10-11 PM on WXXI-TV

Frontline and service workers have borne the health consequences of the Companies rethink the need to even have offices, and the traditional 40-hour workweek 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. Does the nation need new policies of Guaranteed Basic Income, (UBI) or a drastic rethinking of the social safety nets?

Produced by GBH for American Graduate: Getting To Work

About WXXI Education's American Graduate Work

WXXI has been part of the national American Graduate over a number of phases. During the past several years, WXXI has collaborated with regional partners to advance education and career readiness in the region by building awareness of career pathways to attain “good jobs.” WXXI has produced over 30 local content videos focused in-demand career sectors that require training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree to get started in the field. 

WXXI's American Graduate work emphasizes:

• Thousands of in-demand jobs that go unfilled in our region
• Accessing careers through training, apprenticeship, professional certificates,
associates programs, and on-the-job training
• Sharing inspiring stories of how people found their career pathway
in our region and how individuals can get started pursuing a career and continue to learn
• Connecting to resources to research new career options
• Local hands-on career events, industry tours, career days and job fairs
• Connecting with career counselors at educational sites and one-stop job centers and workforce resources to make connections for students

• WXXI connects schools, libraries, out of school programs, parents, youth and young adults with career exploration resources in the region that are free to all such as: 

• WXXI American Graduate Career Profiles Playlist
• WXXI 3 Precision Optics Career Profiles with Optimax Systems 
• PBS LearningMedia career profiles
• WXXI's Career Series: I Can Be What?!
• GLOW With Your Hands Virtual career site
• Interactive Career Coach To Learn About Career Pathways in the 9 Counties (from MCC)
• Career Documentaries On-Demand from Public Media
• Community Career Resources Including: One Stop Centers, Career-Technical Programs, Community Colleges, Explorer Programs, Apprenticeship: Youth and NYS options

Learn More About: WXXI Education | WXXI American Graduate