We asked our WorkingNation Advisory Board to share their thoughts on the most important issues and challenges facing the workforce and the labor market in 2024.
Josh Christianson is the inclusion and accessibility practice lead at The Cadmus Group where he directs contracts to support key federal DEIA goals. In this capacity, he serves as the project director for the Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship.
Here are his thoughts on The Future of Work 2024.
“For the past 10 years, I have been really focused on disability and that lens has allowed me to see and understand – and truly believe – that if we pay attention to disability inclusion, it’s almost impossible not to be more inclusive of those other groups.
“Disability inclusion is based on universal design. You’re making an environment, a tool, an interaction accessible to the broadest human experience, the broadest human expression. And if you’re paying attention to that, it’s going to be virtually impossible to not have a place for women in leadership or to not understand different cultural or experiential backgrounds and be sure you’re aware of that in the workplace. It’s just by nature of philosophy of accessibility and disability inclusion, you will do a better job of including everyone.
“I’m thrilled to be in this space because not only do I think people with disabilities specifically – which I can talk on and on about the numbers and how it’s important – benefit from it, but I truly believe, and I know that others do too, others benefit whether they have disabilities or not.
“That kind of approach to the workplace creates inclusive culture and other traditionally marginalized or underrepresented groups will benefit.”
Read more from our WorkingNation Advisory Board members on The Future of Work 2024.
