A review of technological, political, social, and economic forces affecting the world of work indicates that in the eighties significant changes can be expected in the following areas: the nature of organizations, the relationship between individuals and organizations, the nature of the work force, the nature of the workplace, and the nature of compensation practices. Included among the driving forces for change in the work environment are changing demographies and values, continued decentralization, continued expansion and merging of communications and microelectronics, recognition of new economic realities, changing educational attainment, and increasing globalization. Several short-, medium-, and long-term strategic issues will play key roles in the changing workplace of the 1980s. Inflationary impact, productivity, and women in the workforce are three such short-term issues. Issues likely to surface during the middle of the eighties are minorities in the work force, flexible work schedules, layoff and plant closing policies, retirement policies, growth of the Hispanic population, pension funds, occupational health and safety, equal pay for equal work, and racial discord. Continual movement to an information society and changing management philosophies are likely to affect the world of work toward the end of the decade. (MN)