Arbeitsforschung

Arbeitsforschung is an interdisciplinary field that investigates how work is organized, performed and experienced, with the aim of understanding and improving productivity, safety, health and job satisfaction. It draws on economics, sociology, psychology, engineering and occupational science, and covers areas such as work design, organizational structure and the processes through which work is carried out.

Historically rooted in the industrial era, the field expanded with developments in ergonomics, human factors and organizational studies. In German-speaking contexts the term Arbeitsforschung is often used alongside Arbeitswissenschaft or Arbeitspsychologie to describe research on work systems, labor processes and the conditions under which work is carried out.

Methods used in Arbeitsforschung include empirical field studies, time and motion analysis, surveys, experiments, case studies and computational modeling. Research topics range from work design and task allocation to shift scheduling, fatigue and health, safety and risk, labor markets and job flows, digitalization and automation, human–machine interaction, and organizational change.

Applications of Arbeitsforschung are found in industry, public administration and policy-making, informing the design of jobs, work environments, training programs, safety standards and productivity strategies. The field aims to support both efficiency and worker well-being, providing evidence for reforms, technology adoption and changes in work organization. It serves as a basis for evaluating interventions and for planning policies that affect employment, performance and quality of life in the workplace.