Arbeidswetenschappen

Arbeidswetenschappen, literally "work sciences," is an interdisciplinary field within the social and behavioral sciences that studies work, employment, and the organization of labour. It integrates theories and methods from psychology, sociology, economics, ergonomics, anthropology, and law to understand how work is designed, how jobs are performed, and how work affects individuals and society.

Core topics encompass job design and work processes, productivity and performance, occupational health and safety, psychosocial work factors, job satisfaction and well-being, burnout, work–life balance, and the dynamics of labour markets, employment relations, and skills development. The impact of technology, automation and digitalization on work is also a central concern, as are policies around education and lifelong learning, workforce aging, and inclusion.

Research in arbeidswetenschappen uses a range of methods, including surveys, experiments, observational studies, interviews, and quantitative analyses (econometrics, statistics) as well as qualitative approaches (case studies, ethnography) to study both macro-level labour market trends and micro-level work experience.

Universities in Dutch-speaking regions offer bachelor’s and master’s programs in arbeidswetenschappen or related fields. Graduates pursue careers in human resources, organizational development, occupational health, policy research, labor-market statistics, and consultancy. Some programs are closely linked with occupational psychology or management.

Historically, arbeidswetenschappen drew on industrial sociology, ergonomics, and psychology and has grown into an interdisciplinary field emphasizing evidence-based analysis of work. Naming, scope, and specialties vary by country and institution, with some programs using comparable terms such as occupational sciences or work sciences.