Investigations into new technologies, employment and working conditions are timeless and consequently have occupied research, public policy, and popular fiction for centuries. However, in addition to the uncertainty created by the introduction of new technologies, the current coronavirus pandemic, with its associated impact on health and the economy, has led to increased volatility across the globe. The global medical crisis arising from the worldwide spread of COVID-19 is predicted to lead to a global economic crisis and subsequent deep depression. The resultant economic, social and political repercussions are likely to be felt for years or even decades to come, equalling the great depression of the last century. Consequently, it is difficult to make long-term accurate predictions about the impact of new technologies on industry, society, and labour. In this context, the aim of this introductory article to the themed volume is to consider the potential challenges and opportunities associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and potential impacts on work and workplaces. This introductory article comprises an international collection of research that examines the impact of technological change on employment and working conditions with consideration given to the additional impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

JEL Codes: O14, O33

对新技术，就业和工作条件的调查是永恒的，因此数百年来一直占据着研究，公共政策和流行小说的位置。但是，除了采用新技术带来的不确定性外，当前的冠状病毒大流行及其对健康和经济的影响也导致全球范围内的动荡加剧。预计由于COVID-19在全球范围内的传播而引起的全球医疗危机将导致全球经济危机和随后的严重萧条。由此产生的经济，社会和政治影响可能会持续数年甚至数十年，与上个世纪的大萧条相提并论。因此，很难对新技术对产业，社会，和劳动。在这种情况下，本主题文章的简介旨在探讨与第四次工业革命技术相关的潜在挑战和机遇，以及对工作和工作场所的潜在影响。这篇介绍性文章包括国际研究报告集，研究了技术变革对就业和工作条件的影响，同时考虑了COVID-19危机的其他影响。

JEL码： O14，O33