In 2020, the global workforce lost an equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs, an estimated $3.7 trillion in wages and 4.4% of global GDP, a staggering toll on lives and livelihoods. While vaccine rollout has begun and the growth outlook is predicted to improve, an even socio-economic recovery is far from certain.
The choices made by policymakers, business leaders, workers and learners today will shape societies for years to come. At this critical crossroads, leaders must consciously, proactively and urgently lay the foundations of a new social contract, rebuilding our economies so they provide opportunity for all.
In this context, the Forum remains committed to working with the public- and private sectors to provide better skills, jobs and education to 1 billion people by 2030 through initiatives to close the skills gap and prepare for the ongoing technological transformation of the future of work.
2 novels shared the Pulitzer Prize this year – here’s why they’re so relevant for our times
As we navigate a period of economic uncertainty, this year’s two Pulitzer Prize for fiction winners examine our relationship with money.
5 ways to strengthen university-industry collaboration in Africa
Despite the rapid progress of Africa's universities, there is still a wide gap in university-industry collaboration on the continent that must be bridged.
Learn the skills-first approach this CEO uses at every crossroads moment
Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl went from high school dropout to software engineer, but his passion for aviation required a skills-first approach.
This School In Nigeria Accepts Plastic Bottles In Place Of Fees
In 2015, teacher Patrick Mbamarah noticed two problems in his impoverished district of Ajegunle, Lagos. Children out of school and plastic pollution. He founded the Morit International Sc...
This is why history matters, especially now
It’s natural to want to believe that history provides an instruction manual for the present, and that learning it will really help us avoid repeating grave mistakes.
Six elements accelerating education for a Smart Bangladesh and a Smart World
Smart Bangladesh is a new education system designed for the new Smart World. See how its methods and processes can apply to other countries.
The future of jobs requires a ‘skills-first’ mindset - for employers and for you
Wondering what job you’ll be doing in five years’ time? Chances are it may be quite different from what you do now, and you’ll need different skills. The transition to clean energy and th...
Here are 3 ways higher education can prepare for the generative AI revolution
Higher education institutions need to prepare students for an AI revolution. These three fundamental reforms to higher education can help achieve this aim.
Putting Skills First: A Framework for Action
In Putting Skills First, developed in consultation with leading experts from the public and private sectors, we delve into “skills-first”, a term used to describe a new approach to talent...
Research on 2,400 languages shows nearly half the world’s language diversity is at risk
The world's linguistic diversity is under threat as more and more indigenous languages are not being taught to children, according to academic research.
The Reskilling Revolution is upon us — by 2030, 1 billion people will be equipped with the skills of the future
The world is changing at a dizzying pace — education and skills are not keeping up. The Forum and its partners have launched the Reskilling Revolution, which aims to equip 1 billion peopl...
Countries face a $100 billion finance gap to reach their education targets
More than a fifth of the financing required for countries to meet United Nations’ education targets is unaccounted for, according to a new UNESCO report.