IGF 2018 WS #385 Challenges & opportunities: How will technology reshape jobs

Room
Salle IX
Issue(s)

Organizer 1: Gonzalo Navarro, ALAI

Speaker 1: Ilves Luukas, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: David Autor, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Maarit Palovirta, Technical Community, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 4: Ana Ines Basco, Intergovernmental Organization, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

Additional Speakers

SalesForce (TBC)

Moderator

Adela Goberna

Online Moderator

Gonzalo Navarro

Rapporteur

Gonzalo Navarro

Format

Round Table - 90 Min

Interventions

Luukas Ilves is deputy director and senior fellow at the Lisbon Council, where he is particularly active on questions of strategy, digital economy, e-government, security and global governance. This makes Mr. Ilves a key speaker for our panel, since he will provide the input not only from a top level think tank, but also how digital issues and the future of work are combined. David Autor, PhD, is a Professor and Associate Department Head of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics. He is also a Faculty Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and Editor in Chief of the Journal of Economic Perspectives (published by the American Economic Association), and has served on the Board of Editors at the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics and the Journal of Labor Economics. Mr. Autor counts with a vast expertise in economics and its impact in labor markets, what makes his perspectives of great value. Ana Inés Basco is an Integration Specialist at the Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The INTAL is a worldwide recognized institution, that counts with several publications and studies on the future of work topic. Ms. Basco experience will definitely add key elements that are vital for the understanding of the labour markets in Latin America. Maarit Palovirta is the Senior Manager, Regional Affairs Europe. She joined the Internet Society (ISOC) in November 2013 where she focuses on promoting Internet Development and access in Europe through stakeholder engagement, advocacy and initiatives. Recently, ISOC released a publication regarding the Internet and the jobs, and how this could be giant opportunity for Europe in different levels. Therefore we believe that Ms. Palovirta will share a unique perspective and provide useful insights based on her personal experiences and the work carried out by ISOC. James Manyika is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and chairman and director of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), the firm’s business and economics research arm. James also serves as a member of McKinsey’s Shareholders Council (the Firm’s Board of Directors). We believe that due to Mr. Manyika experience and background, he will be able to share a unique perspective and provide useful insights as to have a better understanding of these topics.

Diversity

A) Almost all stakeholders are represented in workshop (we count with members of Civil Society, Private Sector, Academia and Technical Community) B) All policy perspectives are contained in this workshop: the speakers come from different backgrounds and hold different opinions even when they belong to the same stakeholder. C) We count with speakers of LatAm, USA, Europe, among others, including by this manner at least 3 geographic regions. D) We have gender balance: More than 50% of our participants (speakers - organizers - moderators) are females. E) Youth: the co-proposer and rapporteur of this workshop is under 26 years old.

The future of work in a context of automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence is one of the most pressing issues currently in many regions of the world. Discussions about education and employment are going hand by hand with innovation and digitalization processes, being the central topic in many regional and global forums, where developing countries are playing a major role. The Pacific Alliance, for example, is setting this topic as one of the its main areas of work, trying to assess the impacts and transformation of the employment matrix in the countries members of the alliance. Moreover, the G20, lead this year by Argentina, also involves a deep discussion over the future of work and how technology and digitalization can play a major part in changing the current job market, when combined with education and skills development. There is a growing focus on preparing for the future of work around the world and setting a foundation to maximize the benefits to society of new technology and automation. While we can not predict the exact impact of these new technologies, there is reason for optimism based on all the new jobs/sectors that emerged from previous general purpose technologies like electricity and the steam engine. As with previous advances, there are important investments in human capital, skills, and safety nets to ensure people and society benefit from these technological changes. This roundtable will explore how to make the most of automation and new technologies, jobs of the future, and policies that will position the workforce to seize the opportunities ahead. Intended agenda: Introduction: 2 minutes introduction delivered by the in-presence moderator, who will briefly introduce the topic and the debates around this area. First round of key speakers: 4 minutes max. per key speaker, five speakers. As the idea of this roundtable is to make the audience participants, each key speaker will count with 5 minutes to introduce their perspectives on the topic. The presentations will be short but concise, what will allow a better understanding of each speaker opinions on the subject. After this first round, 2 minutes will be granted to the speakers, in case they want to reply any of their colleagues speakers.(Total time: 25 minutes). Moderator will open the floor for comments/questions First round of opentable: 3-4 minutes max. per participant (total time allocated: 18 minutes). The microphone will be open to other intervention delivered by the participants. After one in-presence participant speech or question, the in-presence moderator will ask the remote moderator if any remote participant would like to post a question or comment. Moderator will announce when first opentable is over and deliver the microphone to the next key speaker. Second round of key speakers: 4 minutes max. per key speaker, five speakers. Same dynamic as in the first round will be applied (Total time: 25 minutes) Moderator will open the floor for comments/questions. Second round of opentable: 3-4 minutes max. per participant. Same dynamic as in the second round will be applied (Total time: 18 minutes) Moderator will announce when second opentable is over Final remarks: the moderator will close the table, by reading some final remarks, stating all the positions argued during the workshop (total time: 2 minutes) Total time distribution: Introduction: 2 minutes Total time speakers: 50 minutes (divided into two rounds of 26 minutes each). Total time participants (remote and in person): 36 minutes (divided into two rounds of 18 minutes each). Closing: 2 minutes Total time: 90 minutes.

We propose the scheme of participation and time allocation described above, taking care to provide enough time to the audience to interact with the participants. Additionally, remote questions and participation from other regions will be addressed by the online moderator in order to be sure that we can capture online reactions.

This workshop helds a vital importance, as it will seek to bring to the table the ongoing discussion in many countries and sectors: how can we boost the progress of economy and dynamize the labour markets, in a context where technology emerges. Moreover, this workshop will address how we aim to make the most of automation and new technologies, jobs of the future, and policies that will position the workforce to seize the opportunities ahead.

Online Participation

As to enhance online participation the remote moderator will provide constant support and feedback to the remote participants that want to address the discussion. Moreover, the in-person moderator will frequently address the remote moderator, as to assure the online participation, by directly asking the remote moderator if there are any online comments or questions. This will translate in a separate microphone that will be allocated specifically for the remote moderator to formulate the questions and comments made by the remote participants. Furthermore, the remote moderator will coordinate a separate online queue of questions, as to keep an organized record of the questions.

Agenda

Agenda:

Introduction: 2 minutes introduction delivered by the in-presence moderator, who will briefly introduce the topic and the debates around this area.

First round of key speakers: 4 minutes max. per key speaker, five speakers. As the idea of this roundtable is to make the audience participants, each key speaker will count with 5 minutes to introduce their perspectives on the topic. The presentations will be short but concise, what will allow a better understanding of each speaker opinions on the subject. After this first round, 2 minutes will be granted to the speakers, in case they want to reply any of their colleagues speakers.(Total time: 25 minutes).

Moderator will open the floor for comments/questions

First round of opentable: 3-4 minutes max. per participant (total time allocated: 18 minutes). The microphone will be open to other intervention delivered by the participants. After one in-presence participant speech or question, the in-presence moderator will ask the remote moderator if any remote participant would like to post a question or comment.

Moderator will announce when first opentable is over and deliver the microphone to the next key speaker.

Second round of key speakers: 4 minutes max. per key speaker, five speakers. Same dynamic as in the first round will be applied (Total time: 25 minutes)

Moderator will open the floor for comments/questions.

Second round of opentable: 3-4 minutes max. per participant. Same dynamic as in the second round will be applied (Total time: 18 minutes)

Moderator will announce when second opentable is over

Final remarks: the moderator will close the table, by reading some final remarks, stating all the positions argued during the workshop (total time: 2 minutes)

Total time distribution:
Introduction: 2 minutes
Total time speakers: 50 minutes (divided into two rounds of 26 minutes each).
Total time participants (remote and in person): 36 minutes (divided into two rounds of 18 minutes each).
Closing: 2 minutes
Total time: 90 minutes.

Session Time
Session Report (* deadline 26 October) - click on the ? symbol for instructions

- Session Type: Round Table

- Title: Challenges & opportunities: How will technology reshape jobs

- Date & Time: Tuesday, 13 November, 2018 - 11:50 to 13:20

- Organizer(s): Gonzalo Navarro, ALAI

- Chair/Moderator: Adela Goberna - ALAI

- Rapporteur/Notetaker: Gonzalo Navarro - ALAI

- List of speakers and their institutional affiliations (Indicate male/female/ transgender male/ transgender female/gender variant/prefer not to answer):

Speaker 1: Davide Storti UNESCO, Male

Speaker 2: Maarit Palovirta, ISOC, Female

Speaker 3: Ana Ines Basco, INTAL, Female

- Theme:

Development, Innovation & Economic Issues

- Subtheme:

Future of Work

- Please state no more than three (3) key messages of the discussion. 

  1. There is plenty of work to do as to boost the progress of economy and dynamize the labour markets, in a context where technology emerges.

  2. Automation and new technologies are a key aspects but public policy will also play a major role in fostering and helping reshape jobs.

- Please elaborate on the discussion held, specifically on areas of agreement and divergence.

There was broad support for the view that the future of work is a topic that will have a great impact on how we approach technology. Some indicated that there are multiple ways of understanding this phenomena, as we need to focus in different areas as to make a difference. For instance, the subject of development of soft skills was addressed during the panel as well as the notions related with capacity building.

Some supported the idea of generating new educations patterns to encompass this change in jobs while others noted that also public policy should tackle these areas as to create the right incentives for new jobs opportunities to develop.

Please describe any policy recommendations or suggestions regarding the way forward/potential next steps.

As possible next steps, it was suggested that focusing on capacity building is a key aspect to prepare the young people for new kind of works, both in hard and soft skills. Also it was recommended that governments should take an active role over setting the right set of principles over this topics, while encompassing the recommendations of other stakeholders.

- What ideas surfaced in the discussion with respect to how the IGF ecosystem might make progress on this issue?

Regarding how the IGF ecosystem might take progress on this issue it was said that this is an emerging topic and therefore the ecosystem must keep it in close observation for the future development of the issue and due to its impact in other areas.

- Please estimate the total number of participants: 30

- Please estimate the total number of women and gender-variant individuals present: 15

To what extent did the session discuss gender issues, and if to any extent, what was the discussion?

Gender was addressed regarding how women take part of the existing and to come working force.