The ILO has produced a report which describes the challenges posed by new technologies, climate change and demographic changes
Advances in technology, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and greening the economy will create new jobs. There are also people who will lose their jobs in this transition; most of whom will be those least prepared to take advantage of new opportunities. This is the summary of the paper titled ‘Work for a Brighter Future’ prepared by the Global Commission on the Future of Work of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
This research addresses the urgency of the changes facing the world of work and provides ideas on how to channel and make better use of these transformations. These issues were highlighted at the World Economic Forum in 2018 where it was stated that at least 50% of companies may see their full-time workforces reduced due to automation by 2022.
According to the study, countless opportunities are expected to improve the quality of life of workers and close the gender gap; however, for this to happen, there is a need for agreements and policies that look into these inequalities in greater depth. The paper also warns that the skills required today shall be outdated and that any new skills acquired may also become obsolete very quickly.
New Opportunities
New job opportunities will be based on taking care of the environment. The need to reduce our carbon footprint requires the development and creation of new jobs to improve life on the planet. This will also result in the loss of other jobs in countries whose industries are based on coal.
The paper proposes an employment programme that focuses on people, based on the investment in the skills of individuals, in labour institutions and in decent work and sustainable development. In addition, it provides some recommendations which imply a universal guarantee of employment, social protection, the universal right to learning new technologies, and increased investment in rural economies, among others.
Finally, this document by the ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work urges governments to commit to adopting a series of measures to meet the challenges generated by the profound and unprecedented changes taking place in the world of work.
