It had become customary for Popes to publish new writings on social issues onat ten-year anniversariesintervals ofsince ''Rerum novarum'', in order to keep the teachings relevant to the current times. ''Laborem exercens'' was written in honor of the 90th anniversary, and makes reference to ''Rerum novarum'' and to several of the subsequent writings.
The Pope was not able to issue the document in time foron the May 15 anniversary because of the [[Pope John Paul II assassination attempt|assassination attempt]] two days earlier.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/13/newsid_2512000/2512533.stm "1981: Thousands see Pope shot in Rome."] ''BBC News: On This Day''. Retrieved 26 Dec 2011.</ref> He published ''Laborem exercens'' a few months later, in September 1981.
Some of the trends mentioned by John Paul within the encyclical are:
