Politics & Policies

The future of work is there for us to make ILO says

Future of Work in US – 58% say there should be limits on the number of jobs that businesses can replace with machines

Americans are apprehensive about a future in which machines take on more of the work now done by humans, and most are supportive of policies aimed at cushioning the economic impact of widespread automation, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The vast majority of Americans (85%) say they would support restricting workforce automation … Continue reading →

Financing Workforce Development in US – Communities will have to develop programs that respond to needs

Workforce development financing has changed significantly over the last 25 years. In 2008, federal funding for the traditional workforce development system was 83 percent lower in real terms than it had been in 1980. As the federal system plays a smaller role in workforce development financing, the job training landscape better represents a “marketplace” where … Continue reading →

UK – Full employment is back on the agenda

‘Full employment’, for so long considered an unreachable relic of a bygone age, is back on the agenda. That it is once again part of economic and political debates is testament to the UK’s remarkably strong employment performance in recent years. A record-high employment rate is something few people would have thought possible this soon … Continue reading →

Minimum Wage in US – This week marks the eighth anniversary of the last time the federal minimum wage was raised

This week marks the eighth anniversary of the last time the federal minimum wage was raised, from $6.55 to $7.25 on July 24, 2009. Since then, the purchasing power of the federal minimum wage has fallen by 12.5 percent as inflation has slowly eroded its value. However, this decline in the buying power of the … Continue reading →

The Future of Work and Automation – The policy implications

The adoption of new technology and new work practices poses particular challenges to both business and policy makers. What are the key priorities they should look to address? Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at The digital future of work: Policy implications of automation | McKinsey & Company Related Posts The Future of … Continue reading →

NEETs in EU – A toolkit for a sustainable activation

This toolkit is intended to assist you in designing and implementing your approach to activate people not in employment, education and training (NEETs). The toolkit provides concrete guidance and tools for PES to assess the NEET challenge and set priorities; draft and implement an Action Plan; and develop new tools, measures and competences from scratch. … Continue reading →

Employment policy must address the concerns underlying the populist backlash against globalisation OECD writes

While an expanding majority of OECD countries have finally closed the massive jobs gap that opened during the Great Recession of 2008‑09, people in a number of countries are expressing rising dissatisfaction with core economic policies, including the promotion of international trade and investment. The populist backlash against globalisation challenges the policy advice offered by … Continue reading →

EU – The impact of recent reforms on inequality

This thematic review performs an analysis of the impact of recent reforms on inequality in Europe and was prepared by a network of external experts – the European Centre of Expertise (ECE) in the field of labour law, employment and labour market policy. The review consists of 27 country-specific articles dedicated all EU countries covered … Continue reading →

Temporary Immigration in Canada – A new Global Skills Strategy

The Canadian government recently launched its new Global Skills Strategy (Strategy) to promote global investment in Canada and facilitate faster entry into Canada for top international talent. Initially announced in November 2016, this Strategy was developed after collaboration between various ministries to give Canadian employers a faster and more predictable process to attract global talent … Continue reading →

ICT Immigrants in Ontario – Prioritized under a new strategy implemented for the week beginning June 26

Candidates in the Express Entry pool for immigration to Canada with work experience in the Information and Communications Technology Sector (ICT) are being prioritized for immigration by the province of Ontario, under a new strategy implemented for the week beginning June 26. The update to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) concerns the Human Capital … Continue reading →

School-to-Work Transition in Italy – A sclerotic labor market and a very inefficient and disorganized educational system

This essay has examined the Italian SWTR, which is a typical example of the European Mediterranean one where the role of the State is marginal as compared to that of the family. The latter has to bear the cost of the extremely slow transition period young people undergo on their way from education to a … Continue reading →

There is no evidence that automation leads to joblessness or inequality EPI says

There clearly are serious problems in the labor market that have suppressed job and wage growth for far too long; but these problems have their roots in intentional policy decisions regarding globalization, collective bargaining, labor standards, and unemployment levels, not technology. Job displacements caused by trade with China in the 2000s were four times as … Continue reading →

Automation – The future of jobs is not deterministic, but needs to be shaped

Fundamental changes in technologies and production systems and the emergence of new industries are major drivers of growth and development. They have the power to transform the world of work by destroying jobs, generating new ones and transforming the nature of jobs. Hence, ever since the Industrial Revolution, workers, business people, policy makers, and academics … Continue reading →

H-1B Visas in US – About two-thirds (64%) of requests were for occupations in STEM

President Donald Trump has ordered a comprehensive review of the H-1B visa program, the primary way that companies in the United States hire high-skilled foreign workers. The multiagency review is expected to result in suggested changes to ensure that the most skilled and highest-paid applicants receive H-1B visas. Though the order may be the first … Continue reading →