The Labor Economics and Industrial Relations Department at PAU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences organized a talk titled "The Meaning of Work," featuring Prof. Zeki ERDUT of Dokuz Eylül University. Moderated by Department Head Prof. Oğuz KARADENİZ, the session examined the concept of work through historical, social, and individual perspectives, with particular attention to the impact of digitalization and the platform economy on contemporary labor markets.
The "Meaning of Work" talk organized by the Labor Economics and Industrial Relations Department of PAU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences took place at the Şehit Piyade Teğmen Bekir Can Kerek Conference Hall, A Block, on 08.05.2026. The event featured Prof. Zeki ERDUT of the Department of Labor Economics and Industrial Relations at Dokuz Eylül University and was moderated by Department Head Prof. Oğuz KARADENİZ. Faculty members and a large number of students attended.
Prof. ERDUT traced the historical evolution of the concept of work, exploring the individual and social significance of labour in human life. He addressed the structural shifts that have reshaped working life over time before turning to the principal forces transforming today's workplace.
A central theme of the presentation was digitalization and its structural impact on the labor market. ERDUT also examined the effects of the platform economy on employment relations, the growing prevalence of flexible work arrangements, and the emergence of new forms of employment. Students followed with particular interest as ERDUT outlined the multi-layered complexity characterizing contemporary labor markets.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session in which Prof. ERDUT responded to questions from the audience.