Within the next decade, the U.S. workforce is projected to increase by 11.5 million to reach nearly 168 million. Advances in automation – most notably, the dramatic rise of artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies – have ushered in new concepts of what exactly it means to earn a living. For workers and employers alike, the future of work is no longer something that stands in the distance, but something that must be grappled with now.

What, then, is the future of the American workforce? What role can employers play in this process and how can they alleviate workers’ anxieties surrounding healthcare and retirement savings? What policy initiatives should leaders in the administration and Congress focus on in order to support the workers of today, while preparing the workforce for tomorrow?