The world of work lies at the intersection of many large-scale transformations – the speed and scale of which are unprecedented. From transformations in technology and global value chains, to rising volumes of migration and the largest-ever wave of urbanization, these structural changes will reshape the nature of work for generations to come.
In many regions across the globe, sweeping advancements in technology are stimulating automation and causing job displacement. But if employed in service of furthering human capacity, these transformations in technology can usher in a new epoch of development and dignity for workers everywhere.
Often celebrated as engines of growth, the vast potential of cities hinges on prudent policies that promote productive employment opportunities. Where cities fail to create good jobs, we witness a ballooning urban underclass stuck in low-paying, low-quality informal jobs.
Source: metrocosm.com | Net Migration year 2010 - 2015
In 2015, 244 million people lived outside their country of origin. While the majority of migrants cross borders in search of better economic and social opportunities, others are forced to flee crises of conflict and climate change. Mobility within countries is on the rise, too. While migration can be the first step to better opportunities, distress migration caused by economic shocks can also exert pressure on over-saturated labor markets.
Countries across the globe are evaluating the costs and benefits of international trade. Some countries are rushing into the global marketplace with an ambitious pro-trade approach, while others are retreating in the face of public distrust of open markets. Meanwhile, even the nature of trade is undergoing massive shifts. Eighty percent of the $20 trillion in trade each year takes place in global value chains, with major consequences for employment and working conditions worldwide.
As trade patterns change and labor markets evolve, trade policies must promote inclusive growth, ensuring more people benefit from the expanding economic pie.
JustJobs in global value chains: inclusive industrialization for ASEAN
U.S. free trade agreements and enforcement of labor law in Latin America
Labor provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Countries across the globe are facing the dual challenge of meeting their growing energy demand and containing the impact of climate change. There is an urgent need to shift the global economy onto a cleaner, more sustainable growth trajectory.
