Technology and development
The Future of Work in 2030
Experts at the United Nations have analyzed employment trends and the promise of new technologies to assess policy options and plan for the future of the world of work.
New technologies are quickly reshaping the global economy with significant implications for the world of work. Recent advancements in manufacturing, communications, transportation and other sectors are making it easier for people to connect, and are reshaping the way many of us do business. Around the world, many are attempting to gauge the consequences of these changes for society and determine how best to harness their productive power.
On 8 November 2013 ECOSOC and the Second Committee of the General Assembly held a Special Joint Meeting to analyze employment trends and depict how the world of work could look in 2030. The goal of the event was to discuss policy options that could help anticipate labor market changes and plan for the future in a concerted manner. The event was co-chaired by the President of ECOSOC, H.E. Mr. Martin Sdjik, and the Chairperson of the Second Committee, H.E. Mr. Abdou Salam Diallo.
In starting the discussion, H.E. Hr. Diallo emphasized the importance of anticipating economic and development challenges which required increased cooperation between the private and public sectors. In particular, he emphasized a focus on training and education in order to improve employment among young people. “Decent work for all will still be a prerequisite for the success of the Post-2015 Development Agenda” he said.
The ILO Director of Research, Raymond Torres, presented three major trends affecting the world of work that would require serious policy considerations in the future: improved education and demographic change leading to a divided that would support a growing middle class; the spread of new technology for economic integration and new business opportunities, and; social progress, particularly with respect to gender balance and workers’ rights.
Mr. Torres highlighted a growing disconnect between the opportunities presented by these trends and rising underemployment and informal employment in the world of work, including a mismatch of skills between labour market supply and demand, growing social inequalities and youth unemployment which threatened the social contract. Mr. Torres spoke about the role of regulations, governance institutions, labour market institutions, taxation and social protection in tackling these challenges at the country-level with the help of the international community.
Other panelists included Paul De Civita (Policy Horizons, Canada), Peter Padbury (Director of Scanning and Foresight, Policy Horizons, Canada), Marco Pochmann (Institute of Economics and the Centre for Trade Union Studies and Labour Economics) and Barbara Birungi (Women and Technology, Uganda). An interactive dialogue among participants followed the presentations, and was led by two discussants representing workers’ and employers’ interests.
The representative from the US Council for International Business, Adam Greene (Vice President, Labor Affairs and Corporate Responsibility and Governance) told the group that governments must create environments conducive to entrepreneurship through good governance and flexible labour markets. He stressed that formal property rights, in particular, should be expanded to encourage borrowing that could spur new job creation. He also echoed other speakers’ comments on the need for universal education and expressed support for apprenticeships that would give young people much needed professional experience earlier in life.
Peter Bakvis, Director of Global Unions, highlighted some of the negative trends happening in the world of work, such as increasing unemployment, lack of access to information and rising inequalities. Mr. Bakvis spoke of a growing disconnect between opportunities created by new technology and outcomes for workers in the labour market. He lauded the trend of new trade agreements that increasingly included the promotion of workers’ rights but maintained that labour and social aspects of trade agreements still remain weak and aspirational compared to the binding nature of other facets of the agreements.
The event was the last of several side events organized by Second Committee of the 68th UN General Assembly, which has concluded its formal meetings but will continue its deliberations and resolution drafting through the end of the year.
On 8 November 2013 ECOSOC and the Second Committee of the General Assembly held a Special Joint Meeting to analyze employment trends and depict how the world of work could look in 2030. The goal of the event was to discuss policy options that could help anticipate labor market changes and plan for the future in a concerted manner. The event was co-chaired by the President of ECOSOC, H.E. Mr. Martin Sdjik, and the Chairperson of the Second Committee, H.E. Mr. Abdou Salam Diallo.
In starting the discussion, H.E. Hr. Diallo emphasized the importance of anticipating economic and development challenges which required increased cooperation between the private and public sectors. In particular, he emphasized a focus on training and education in order to improve employment among young people. “Decent work for all will still be a prerequisite for the success of the Post-2015 Development Agenda” he said.
The ILO Director of Research, Raymond Torres, presented three major trends affecting the world of work that would require serious policy considerations in the future: improved education and demographic change leading to a divided that would support a growing middle class; the spread of new technology for economic integration and new business opportunities, and; social progress, particularly with respect to gender balance and workers’ rights.
Mr. Torres highlighted a growing disconnect between the opportunities presented by these trends and rising underemployment and informal employment in the world of work, including a mismatch of skills between labour market supply and demand, growing social inequalities and youth unemployment which threatened the social contract. Mr. Torres spoke about the role of regulations, governance institutions, labour market institutions, taxation and social protection in tackling these challenges at the country-level with the help of the international community.
Other panelists included Paul De Civita (Policy Horizons, Canada), Peter Padbury (Director of Scanning and Foresight, Policy Horizons, Canada), Marco Pochmann (Institute of Economics and the Centre for Trade Union Studies and Labour Economics) and Barbara Birungi (Women and Technology, Uganda). An interactive dialogue among participants followed the presentations, and was led by two discussants representing workers’ and employers’ interests.
The representative from the US Council for International Business, Adam Greene (Vice President, Labor Affairs and Corporate Responsibility and Governance) told the group that governments must create environments conducive to entrepreneurship through good governance and flexible labour markets. He stressed that formal property rights, in particular, should be expanded to encourage borrowing that could spur new job creation. He also echoed other speakers’ comments on the need for universal education and expressed support for apprenticeships that would give young people much needed professional experience earlier in life.
Peter Bakvis, Director of Global Unions, highlighted some of the negative trends happening in the world of work, such as increasing unemployment, lack of access to information and rising inequalities. Mr. Bakvis spoke of a growing disconnect between opportunities created by new technology and outcomes for workers in the labour market. He lauded the trend of new trade agreements that increasingly included the promotion of workers’ rights but maintained that labour and social aspects of trade agreements still remain weak and aspirational compared to the binding nature of other facets of the agreements.
The event was the last of several side events organized by Second Committee of the 68th UN General Assembly, which has concluded its formal meetings but will continue its deliberations and resolution drafting through the end of the year.