Launch of Smarter World, Smarter Work campaign
This week Ibec has launched a new national campaign Smarter World, Smarter Work, which aims to prepare Ireland for a new era of work. Globalisation, digitalisation, changing lifestyles and new consumer preferences mean jobs and careers are being transformed. And the pace of change is accelerating.
The latest Ibec podcast was recorded live from Trinity College's Long Room Hub, where we sat down with industry leaders such as Margot Slattery (Sodexo), David Kelly (Ervia) and Helen Tynan (Google), who outlined the need for public policy to focus on investing in an individual’s employability skills to help them transition through different career stages.
On the morning of the launch Ibec Director of Employer Relations, Maeve McElwee, set out the aims of the campaign to RTE's Morning Ireland. You can listen to the full interview here.
Smarter World, Smarter Work sets out an ambitious vision for our economy and our society. Crucially, it identifies what we need to do to reap the rewards of a rapidly changing labour market, and avoid the pitfalls. It proposes a range of actions across four key areas:
Investment in skills and employability: New jobs require new skills. At all stages, for all ages, the training and education system must equip individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to reach their full potential.
Flexibility at all life stages: We all need to embrace new ways of managing working life – individuals, employers and government. We need to rethink traditional career paths, embrace new ways of working and ensure public policy actively encourages work.
A dynamic labour market: Creating and attracting new jobs means staying competitive. A responsive labour market that supports job creation and high living standards, while also safeguarding our dynamic business model, is vital.
Smoother career transitions: Economic, technological and social change means people are moving between working and non-working life more often during their lives. Our employment, social protection and pensions system needs to support easy transitions.
As part of the launch we have also published detailed proposals on one key element of the campaign – skills and employability.
We have set out what government, educators and business can do to better prepare graduates for the future world of work.
The next stage of the campaign is a substantial lobbying and communications effort to ensure that our priorities are understood and implemented by Government. We will also release new recommendations under each of the key campaign areas over the coming months.
Find out more about Smarter World, Smarter Work at our dedicated website.
As always, I would be delighted to receive any comments or feedback on this campaign or any other matter.
Best wishes,
Danny McCoy
Ibec CEO
Monday, 9 July 2018