Young Adults Have the Same Dreams as Their Parents. The Path There Looks Nothing Like It.
A Q&A With Rob Crosnoe and Shannon Cavanagh, authors of The Journey into Adulthood in Uncertain Times
Area of Expertise
Labor & the Future of Work
We help leaders plan for today and tomorrow, providing actionable insights on the evolution of work and the workforce.
Foresight For Tomorrow's Workplace
Labor and workforce changes bring significant challenges, but with the right tools, leaders can plan ahead.
Why It Matters
Major shifts in demographics and technology are remaking work—and demanding nimble, nuanced responses.
Longer lifespans, shifting migration patterns, and evolving family structures are transforming the global workforce, with some regions graying rapidly while others contend with a surge of young talent. Add in AI, automation, remote work, and other tech-fueled advancements—and the rules for how, where, and by whom work gets done are being rewritten.
How We Drive Change
PRB helps leaders—from national governments to local communities and organizations of every size—grasp what these changes mean and act on them, today and for the long term. Our work includes:
- Combining deep subject-matter expertise with advanced data analysis to turn complex trends into actionable strategies for business leaders.
- Advising on policies, leading workshops, and publishing research on labor shortages, workforce development, care economies, gender equity, aging, and technology—all examined through the lens of population change.
- Integrating local, regional, and global dynamics to deliver insights that strengthen workforce planning, expand economic opportunity, and support societal well-being.
Latest News & Insights
AI and the Future of Work: Uneven, Uncertain, and Unresolved
Care, the future of work and AI, and other themes we’re keeping an eye on in the new year
Five Facts and Trends We're Watching in 2026
Care, the future of work and AI, and other themes we’re keeping an eye on in the new year
We, the (Fewer) People!
The consequences of demographic change as a “megatrend” of our time are not a far destiny anymore but more and more felt in our direct living environment: within families, neighborhoods, municipalities, and regions.
The West Bank and Gaza: A Population Profile
What do data tell us about the people who live in Gaza and the West Bank?
PRB et CREG discutent de l'importance de reconnaître le travail domestique non rémunéré avec des leaders féminins au Togo
PRB et notre partenaire de longue date, CREG, ont rencontré REFAMP Togo pour discuter des problèmes urgents du travail non rémunéré des soins familiaux et de la transition démographique en…
Latest Resources
Report: Using AI to Help Communicate Your Research
Used deliberately, AI can also serve as a thinking partner, helping you test interpretations, anticipate questions, and refine explanations.
From Boom to Imbalance: How Population Change Is Straining Public Pension Systems in the United States
Population Bulletin vol. 79, no. 1
Report: The Latino Working Class: America’s Economic Engine
PRB and UnidosUS are exploring the characteristics of the Latino working class, offering insights to inform policies that expand economic opportunity.
Report: Demographics of African Faculty in the East African Community
The Demographics of African Faculty in the East African Community (DAF-EAC) is a study undertaken by a consortium comprised of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA), the Association of African Universities (AAU), and the Population Reference Bureau (PRB).
Key Indicators for Student and Faculty Data for Higher Education Data Management: East African Community
Higher education data management covers a broad range of information, including students, faculty, other staff, research and development, facilities, and financial resources.
As Dementia Rises, More Older Americans Are Getting Care at Home. It's Not Without Challenges.
Families face the financial burden of paying out-of-pocket for care not covered by Medicare and Medicaid and the emotional toll of day-to-day caregiving.
Watch: The Future of Work and the Workforce
PRB President and CEO Jennifer Sciubba discusses the demographic trends shaping work and the workforce in the United States and around the world.