New Platforms and Technologies for Matching Workers to Jobs
Past Event
About the conference
The Block Center for Technology and Society at Carnegie Mellon University is convening a Fall 2025 mini-conference focused on innovations in how workers are matched to jobs in a rapidly evolving labor market. While the gig economy remains a central area of inquiry, this event broadens the lens to encompass emerging platforms, inclusive design approaches, and the role of AI and policy in shaping access to employment and opportunities. The conference will bring together academic researchers, industry leaders, and policy practitioners for a day of dialogue, research exchange, and collaborative brainstorming. We aim to surface insights that inform both scholarly understanding and real-world interventions related to labor platforms and job-matching technologies.
Gig Platforms and the Changing Nature of Work
Morning sessions will center on the structure, regulation, and impact of platform-based gig markets, including:
- Monopsony power and worker welfare
- Platform design and user experience
- Digital labor rights and algorithmic management
- Equity, inclusion, and global labor dynamics
Innovations in Job Matching Technologies
Afternoon sessions will explore new tools and systems for helping workers connect to meaningful employment, especially during times of transition. Topics include:
- AI-enabled job recommendations and “nudge” interventions
- Inclusive design in labor market tools
- Public-sector and nonprofit innovations in job placement
- UI/UX strategies that improve worker outcomes