The article presents study of evolution of scientific views on labor activity, through the prism of the needs of specific stages of society development. The historical reference, concerning scientific researches of the population, labor and employment and their evolution, is presented. Article show transformation of assertions on the role of a person in economic growth. The various aspects of a person as a carrier of ability to work are revealed. The concept of the content of the categories "human resources", "human factor", in separate scientific theories and the main elements of the conceptual and terminological apparatus of research of this problem are revealed. The concept of a person who interprets a highly skilled workforce as a capital created by investing in a person (education, science, health care) is defined. The concept of human capital is dictated by the profound processes that take place in modern civilization. It is also considered how several enterprises use simultaneously several terms: along with the term "staff" often use "frames" or "labor collective". Many authors at one time approached these categories with the concepts "labor resources". There is no single interpretation of their essence, it is due to the widespread use of these concepts in various fields of science and practice: economics, governance, law, etc. It emphasizes the relevance of socio-economic relations caused by the expansion of the needs of the modern man and the corresponding changes in the system of social values. Importance and complexity, multidimensionality of the labor process, which resulted from the active interest of various sciences. By transforming the environment into work and adapting it to their needs, people not only ensure their existence, but also create conditions for the development and progress of society. Labor is one of the most important forms of self-expression and self-improvement of man, which is a powerful factor in social progress.