Employment
Making manufacturing cool again
Manufacturing superstars like Germany and South Korea have always attracted the best to the sector and other countries should follow suit, write Martin Baily and James Manyika.
Once upon a time, ambitious young people with a knack for math and science went to work in manufacturing. They designed planes, computers, and furniture, figured out how to lay out an assembly line, helped to make new cars faster and refrigerators more efficient, pushed the limits of computer chips, and invented new medicines. But, as the role of manufacturing diminished in advanced economies, the brightest talents...
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January 25, 2013
Making workplace wellness the norm
John Dineen makes a case for a healthy work environment
As countries around the world strive to create sustainable health systems, conversations are shifting to a place many people spend sizeable amounts of time: work. The integration of wellness and health in the workplace is proving to be a powerful influencer in helping employees lead healthier lives and improving long-term economic impact on healthcare costs.
Employers have a unique vantage point: there is strong evidence that a healthy workforce is vital to a company’s and a country’s competitiveness, productivity and well-being. Over...
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January 25, 2013
Who is responsible for training today’s workforce?
The need to prepare talent for the fast-changing world of work is a top priority for companies focused on meeting their business goals for 2013. Yet, training today’s talent to take on new roles in transforming industries is not only the responsibility of companies. This priority is also shared by all stakeholders in regional economies, including governments, educators and trade groups.
Companies that I meet are continually learning how to reinforce their workforce strategy, at both local and global levels. They face a constantly changing mix of local dynamics, such as an ageing workforce and...
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January 24, 2013
Wanted: 600 million workers
The future of the economy depends on getting people with the right skills to match the next generation of jobs, says Bradford L. Smith.
We stand in the midst of a global economic tragedy. Around the world, new job opportunities are being created that offer the promise of prosperity. Yet hundreds of millions of people find themselves locked out of these opportunities because they lack the necessary education and skills.
Unless current trends are reversed, this opportunity gap will deepen, creating even greater income disparities and stifling economic recovery worldwide. To avoid this outcome...
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January 24, 2013
The US can’t be complacent on job creation
John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, on the steps his state has taken to create jobs and fuel economic growth.
Countries in eastern Asia and Europe have, in recent decades, developed highly effective training systems that help their citizens prepare for success in a competitive, global economy. Key to this has been the ability of policy-makers to listen to job creators and respond with training programmes that meet their needs.
The United States must keep up to remain competitive.
For years, the US held the top spot on the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. This year, we ranked...
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January 22, 2013
Skills gaps, job-hopping and dwindling loyalty
Dennis Nally, Senior Partner at PwC, on the challenges companies face to recruit and retain talented people.When it comes to talent, CEOs agree: while there have never been so many educated and mobile people in the world, recruiting the right ones – and getting them to where they are needed most – is more difficult than ever.This challenge comes up time and again in my conversations with business leaders around the world. And it was also one of the key findings of PwC’s recent Global CEO Survey. Over half of the CEOs surveyed – and 62% in the Asia-Pacific region, home to the world’s largest...
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January 22, 2013
Training and employing youth, looking to the future
I’m heading off to the World Economic Forum in Davos to talk about training of young people, to me a major challenge that will have profound impacts upon the world we live in if we do not address it properly. This places it at the heart of our work at Friends-International.
Youth unemployment is rising dramatically across the world – 75 million are affected: a rate of unemployment 3 times higher than for adults! 10% of these are categorized as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). With little improvement in sight, there are heavy consequences: immediate negative economic and...
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January 21, 2013
A dynamic vision for employment
Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Infosys, India, shares a new vision for employment and economic growth.
At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012 in Davos-Klosters, world leaders gathered to deliberate what the future might look like, to align stakeholders around that vision and to inspire the realization of that vision. One year later, integrating people, systems and technologies to that end remains an indisputable leadership challenge. Hence the need for Resilient Dynamism to overcome the hurdles and to make the most of transformational opportunities ahead.
One such...
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January 19, 2013
Technology and the employment challenge
Michael Spence, a Nobel laureate in economics, is Professor of Economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and is scheduled to participate at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos 2013.
MILAN – New technologies of various kinds, together with globalization, are powerfully affecting the range of employment options for individuals in advanced and developing countries alike – and at various levels of education. Technological innovations are not only reducing the number of routine jobs, but also causing changes in...
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January 15, 2013
Unemployed or unemployable?
As we think about the challenges we will face in 2013, unemployment remains at the top of the agenda. As a 26-year-old, I keep asking myself whether we are a scarred generation or if society will be able to create the 600 million productive jobs needed over the next decade.
According to the ILO, young people are three times as likely as adults to be unemployed and more than 75 million young people worldwide are currently looking for a job. Yet, the young are not the only ones affected by the deteriorating labour markets. Millions of adults have also lost their jobs as a result of the crisis....
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January 4, 2013
Why we need healthcare on the job
What will the future of health and healthcare look like? In a joint series of blog posts by the World Economic Forum’s Strategic Foresight and Health teams, a number of leading voices will present their own visions for the future. Contributions are linked to the Scenarios for Sustainable Health Systems project, the Workplace Wellness Alliance and the Healthy Living Initiative. In the following post, Sean Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Health and Productivity Management and Shahnaz Radjy, Project Manager of the World Economic Forum’s Workplace Wellness Alliance will...
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November 21, 2012
Employment for youth and women: all hands on deck approach
On the third and final day of the Summit on the Global Agenda, I am struck by the cacophony of ideas, thoughts and reflections. My particular take-away from the Summit has been to crystallize ideas around employment for youth and women, where all stakeholders need to be involved. In the case of Pakistan, with 4 million job seekers entering the market per year, the economy simply cannot provide this number of jobs. Most individuals seeking employment will have to create jobs for themselves. This raises the issue of skill sets and the employability of new job entrants. Around the world, there...
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November 14, 2012
A ticking clock for new models for youth employment
A mundane programming task arose last week in the tech team of Qordoba, a digital content creation company where I work in Dubai. Given that we work with hundreds of freelance content writers, translators and editors from across the Middle East, we are comfortable using freelancers for internal tasks as well, from accounting to design to data entry.Posting the job on one of the largest global contracting sites, the Singapore-based Odesk.com, the usual happened: within minutes I had received hundreds of applications from well-qualified programmers in India and the Philippines. But by the time...
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November 14, 2012
How can governments create a fertile environment for employment?
In recent decades, rising living standards and literacy rates, as well as the increased availability of higher education, have resulted in an improved human development index in Arab countries. At the same time, technology and media have been revolutionized and the Arab citizen empowered with information access. These trends were not coupled with sustainable economic development, or political reform and inclusion. The result has been a natural tension between rising aspirations, needs and knowledge, and a lack of economic opportunities and political participation. Hence, the Arab Spring in...
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November 14, 2012
Does technology works against employment?
Kenneth Rogoff, a former Chief Economist of the IMF, is Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Harvard University.CAMBRIDGE – Since the dawn of the industrial age, a recurrent fear has been that technological change will spawn mass unemployment. Neoclassical economists predicted that this would not happen, because people would find other jobs, albeit possibly after a long period of painful adjustment. By and large, that prediction has proven to be correct.Two hundred years of breathtaking innovation since the dawn of the industrial age have produced rising living standards for ordinary...
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October 2, 2012
Is youth unemployment a threat to Arab stability?
The threat to stability in the Arab world posed by youth unemployment is such that governments old and new must urgently address the worsening economic environment. If a solution is not found soon, the whole region risks instability or even secondary revolutions.The FT’s beyondbrics touched on this issue recently in an article about moves towards a higher minimum wage in Saudi Arabia, arguing that job creation is “imperative” for “a country that is throwing money at its potentially restive population”. This is an important point. With commentary on the region mostly focusing on the...
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October 1, 2012
Mobile Learning: The future of education and youth employment
I am excited by the opportunities that the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2012 is providing to create momentum on skills training and education.On Tuesday, we tackled the question of how mobile learning (m-learning) can help improve the quality and reach of education. Today, there are increasingly sophisticated learning tools on offer via mobile phones, tablets and other devices. And, the opportunities provided by augmented reality, educational gaming and social networking for peer collaboration are enticing.But, we are only just beginning to understand...
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September 13, 2012
International Youth Day: the global challenge of unemployment
This International Youth Day (12/08/2012) approaches as unemployment surfaces as one of the top challenges young people are facing around the globe. ”Over 75 million young people still have no formal job. Young people are three times more likely than adults to be unemployed”, Lars Thunell, CEO of the International Finance Corporation (IFC).A snapshot of youth unemployment:Today, 50% of the world’s population is under 27 years old. According to the International Labour Organization, youth comprise 40% of the 200 million people who are unemployed worldwideIn...
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August 10, 2012
A young solution to youth unemployment
Poonam had just dreamed up the idea of creating access to markets for products made by young entrepreneurs by certifying them “YouthTrade” and getting them shelf space in Fortune 500 retailers. Meanwhile, Frannie was deeply engaged in building capacity in African countries to promote youth leadership and entrepreneurship.Our goals were bound to intersect. And, thus, “YouthTrade Nigeria” was born. The project is scheduled to become operational in July this year.About 80% of youth businesses fail within the first few years – most of them due to lack of access to markets. YouthTrade is creating...
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July 13, 2012
Are we losing a generation to unemployment?
As many as 200 million people around the world want work and cannot find it, after almost four years of a global financial crisis and even some economic growth.For the young, unemployment is not just cyclical, it is a chronic condition that is robbing them of a secure future and depriving society of their contributions towards a healthier and more economically productive society.I find this unacceptable. We are in danger of losing a generation.Despite many efforts to integrate young people into the workforce through training programmes and investments in education, over 75 million still have...
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July 2, 2012
Youth Unemployment: Still in Crisis
The World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia provided a platform to discuss ideas and best solutions to address youth unemployment. Not enough has been done over the years to address this issue, despite various discussions and initiatives launched at a regional and local level over the years.A number of factors are preventing us from acting quickly enough and from finding the most effective solutions, first among these being that most discussions were directed from specific country needs even though we live in a globalized world. We need to think out of the box and...
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June 6, 2012
Caught offside: tackling the youth employment crisis
At the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia, I will be leading a discussion on the youth employment crisis and speaking on a panel focusing on social protection systems. It is encouraging to see that social entrepreneurs are increasingly being asked to share their views on major societal problems. This shows that we can make a valuable contribution when it comes to thinking outside the box – especially with regards to team play and going beyond organisational boundaries.As with all global challenges, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the youth unemployment...
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June 5, 2012
Employing the Future of the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia
Finding work is one of the biggest challenges facing young people today. With rising education costs and no work for an increasingly overqualified youth, the future seems bleak for many. What can governments, businesses and leaders in civil society do to change this? How can economists and policy-makers ensure a stable future that will boost job growth?We want your input for two high-level sessions that address these questions:World Economic Brainstorming: Youth Employment Crisis – Time for Action (9.00 – 10.15 EEST 5 June 2012)Business leaders, policy-makers, the Forum’s Global Shapers,...
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June 4, 2012
The Talent Ecosystem in the Human Age
In advance of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia, Françoise Gri discusses the need to improve the regions’ workforce with the right mindset around training. Arriving in Istanbul this week, ahead of the meeting, I was struck by the rich mixture of cultural, architectural and regional influences in this beautiful city. Turkey’s pivotal position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has created great trade opportunities. However, this country still faces major challenges, along with other countries in the region, to overcome unprecedented change, complexity and...
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June 3, 2012
Finding the Key to Resolve the Middle East-North Africa Job Crisis
As a Young Global Leader, I am fortunate to be participating in a number of meaningful sessions and workshops at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia, taking place in Istanbul.My area of interest is the issue of job creation, and I will be taking part in a mix of private and public sessions focused on three themes:The role of large employers in the challenge of job creationThe youth unemployment crisisThe importance of enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to thrive vis-à-vis these issuesI have read from many sources and heard through various...
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June 2, 2012
A brave new world, a brave chicken
While today’s crisis may revolve around financial markets, tomorrow’s will stem from the aftershock: hundreds of millions of young adults never incorporated in the job market. The repercussions of this lost generation will be devastating.Unemployment can create a vicious cycle. Countries with high levels of unemployment will generate lower tax revenues, often resulting in budget cuts on education and transportation infrastructure. These cuts then weaken the business investment climate. Personally, unemployment is demoralizing: it can lower one’s sense of self-worth and create a self-...
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May 16, 2012
African Social Entrepreneurs 2012
Five social entrepreneurs were presented the award of Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 for Africa by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship yesterday in Addis Ababa at the World Economic Forum on Africa.They were presented their awards in the context of Africa`s Leadership plenary, to underscore their importance in the economic, political and social future of the continent. We were also honoured to have with us at the awards ceremony President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria, President Jakaya M. Kikwete of Tanzania and Prime Minister...
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May 11, 2012
Generating job creation in India
The World Economic Forum and the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the winners of their global essay competition on youth unemployment, The Youth Jobs Innovation Challenge. The competition aims to give voice to young people on how to tackle the growing crisis of youth unemployment. More than 1.2 billion young people will enter the labour market in the next 10 years with only 300 million jobs awaiting them. Ravi Subramanian was awarded third place for his entry.“What can I do to create jobs for my generation?”...
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May 3, 2012
Tackling Youth Unemployment in Rural India
The World Economic Forum and the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the winners of their global essay competition on youth unemployment, The Youth Jobs Innovation Challenge. The competition aims to give voice to young people on how to tackle the growing crisis of youth unemployment. More than 1.2 billion young people will enter the labour market in the next 10 years with only 300 million jobs awaiting them. Vidyadhar Prabhudesai was awarded second place for his entry.As I glance through “Output, Prices and Jobs” in the...
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May 2, 2012
Tackling youth unemployment online
The World Economic Forum and the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the winners of their global essay competition on youth unemployment, The Youth Jobs Innovation Challenge. The competition aims to give voice to young people on how to tackle the growing crisis of youth unemployment. More than 1.2 billion young people will enter the labour market in the next 10 years with only 300 million jobs awaiting them. May Habib was awarded first place for her entry.The love of language and technology is the drive behind Qordoba, a web-based...
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May 1, 2012
What if unemployment threatens our democratic way of life?
Sharan Burrow warns that we face a downward spiral without coordinated international efforts on job creation, in an interview for the Risk Response Network’s “What if?” series. You can read the World Economic Forum’s latest report on employment issues here.What is your main field of expertise and current research? My job is to represent working people. There are many ways in which I do this, so area of expertise is an interesting question. It could be in a crisis response frame in terms of conflict or risk for workers, or it could be in a development frame, proposing alternate...
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April 30, 2012
What if the unemployment time bomb explodes?
Labour expert Stephen Pursey explores the disastrous consequences of failing to provide jobs for the world’s bulging population of young people. The interview is part of the Risk Response Network’s “What if?” series, which explores various hypothetical risk scenarios.What is your main field of expertise and current research? I study the world of work and how it connects to the global economy. As the Director of the Department of Policy Integration at the International Labour Organization, it is my job to try and connect the work of the ILO with the work of other international organizations in...
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March 22, 2012
How to replace the 7.5 million US jobs lost during the recession?
In a series of posts leading up to the World Economic Forum’s Energy for Economic Growth report launched on Wednesday 7th March 2012, Howard Newman, CEO of Pine Brook Partners, talks about the growth potential in the US domestic oil industry.I have bad and good news for you. The bad news is that the U.S. housing market is unlikely to recover strongly before 2014 and, even then, it will not return to its pre-recession levels. The good news is that investment in domestic oil production has the potential to create jobs for the very workers who suffered most under the recession-and...
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March 7, 2012
Davos 2012: Put jobs centre stage
As Davos participants meet, there are huge uncertainties in economic prospects around the world. The IMF has significantly downgraded its growth forecasts. In Europe, which is currently at the centre of concern, growth has come to a standstill, even in Germany. In many of the peripheral countries, output is contracting. The rest of the world is not immune: there seems to be a general slowdown affecting many of the emerging countries also. Strong and sustained growth seems to be eluding the world economy. Moreover, where there is growth, most often it is not accompanied by vigorous job...
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January 26, 2012