Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Honours
Work is changing across the globe. Technology, international trade, and shifting public policies are transforming how, where, and why people work—from multinational factories to digital platforms and remote employment. These changes raise urgent questions about fairness, equity, opportunity, and the future of work.
York’s Global Work & Labour Studies program—the only one of its kind in Canada—offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding these global transformations. If you’re interested in global politics, economic change, labour rights, law, and the reorganization of work, this program equips you to analyze and shape what comes next.
Flexible study options -- single or double majors and minors – allow you to tailor your degree. Popular pairings include Law and Society, Criminology, Business and Society, Health and Society and International Development Studies.
With dedicated advising, a strong student association and award-winning faculty, you’ll build real-world skills alongside critical global insight.
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OUAC Code: YRM
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Global impact
Explore how AI, automation, and global economic shifts are transforming employment, wages, and working conditions across regions - from factories in Asia to service economies in Europe and North America, and from expanding labour marketing in Africa to evolving work places in Latin America and the Middle East.
Flexible degree options
Whether a single major, a major paired with a minor or a double major, Global Work & Labour Studies gives you the freedom to examine global issues from multiple perspectives. Popular program combinations include Law & Society, Criminology, Business & Society; Health & Society; and International Development Studies-- all fields connected to global labour and economic systems. The choice of a second major or a minor is up to you and your interests.
Our alumni
Graduates from our program pursue careers across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including labour and employment relations, human resources, public administration, law, and public policy. Roles include labour relations specialists, conflict resolution advisors, workplace investigators, global workforce development and community advocates. Many continue into law, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), corporate social responsibility (CSR), compliance and organizational consulting, education and graduate studies, contributing to fair and sustainable work locally and globally.
What you’ll learn
- Examine how global economic forces, trade agreements, technological change, and legal frameworks shape work and workers’ lives worldwide.
- Discover key focus areas including global production networks, international migration, labour standards and employment relations.
- Understand pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, automation and robotization, gig and migrant work, labour and employment law, remote work, occupational health and safety, climate change, and changing working conditions across regions.
Hands-on experiences
- Gain practical experience through community-based projects, international case studies, co-op placements, internships, field trips and paid research opportunities.
- Learn directly from labour leaders, policymakers, industry professionals and researchers working on global labour issues such as transnational labour law, migration, workplace organization and corporate governance.
- Be part of an inclusive, globally engaged community supported by strong advising and student leadership. Connect local workplaces to global systems—and graduate ready to lead in an interconnected world.
Possible careers
- Human Resource Management
- Lawyer
- Public Administration
- Labour Relations
- Conflict Resolution Advisor
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist
The Work & Labour Studies program at York was a great experience. It taught me how to think critically about work and the labour movement. One of the strengths of the program is that there is a global perspective on work. There are great courses on labour at a global level and the instructors often have international research and teaching experience themselves. Combine that with cutting edge research into work and global warming and a placement course that gives you great new experiences, York's Work & Labour Studies program can prepare you for so many different elements of the world of work and labour.
— Gerard Di Trolio
Alumnus, Work & Labour Studies
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Interested in this program?
As a future student if you fill out this form you will be entered into a draw for a chance to win 1 of 4 $50 YU Bookstore gift cards. See full contest details.
