Egypt is a country where the labour force, the 15 – 64 years-old bracket, makes some 62.8 per cent of the population in 2016, and is steadily expanding. Hence, the rising demand for more jobs. In the recent National Conference for youth, the young people and President Sisi highlighted the need for jobs and for the support of small and medium businesses for the young. In this context, Watani reviews a study by Strategic Planner Mohsen Hanna
The global population is growing at an accelerating rate; from 7.3 billion in 2015 it is expected to reach 9.5 billion in 2050. This entails an expected growth in workforce from 35.3 billion hours/day in 2015 to 46.7 billion hours/day in 2050. At the same time, many jobs will become obsolete owing to the adoption of modern technology in the workplace. In parallel, modernisation works to raise the standard of living; higher incomes are needed to meet modern living standards.
The availability of jobs is a key factor in preventing economic crises. Creating jobs not only increases individual income which in turn increases a society’s income and builds a strong economy, but it also improves the collective well-being and satisfaction of a community.
As the world enters into the fourth phase of the industrial revolution—the industrial revolution has been divided into three phases throughout 225 years from 1760 to the present—highly skilled workers are in demand; an uneducated workforce has no role in the modern workplace. And while the global workforce grows, traditional energy resources are depleted. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to overhaul the work system so as to balance the workforce and the energy needed for production.
Designing a strategy for job creation is therefore a pivotal need for global economies; it is a task that must be tackled in a thoroughly scientific manner, focusing on six main components:
1. Who is responsible for the creation of jobs?
Job creation is the responsibility and professional duty of decision makers, legislators, education developers, inventors, financial institutions, public and private business leaders, as well as local and international business organisations. It is also the responsibility of each individual to improve his or her skills to meet the needs of the job market.
2. How can the balance between the workforce and other production factors be achieved?
One of biggest challenges any workplace faces is to maintain the balance between the different factors of production, including workforce, automation, high technology machinery, software applications, and all power sources. It is important to make the most of a growing workforce and a shrinking supply of traditional power. An optimum factor combination must provide high quality products and services at reasonable cost by balancing the available workforce against the need to achieve lowest cost and highest return for the individual and the community. In the process, human rights conventions must be respected, and energy resources preserved for future generations.
3. What are the features of the modern education needed to help create jobs?
Unlike traditional education, the modern education system does not end with graduation. It is a continuing process in which individuals are encouraged to acquire additional knowledge and skills throughout their entire life. It is an education system continually updated to meet the needs and demands of the work field, combining smart education and training. Teachers help students acquire the skills needed to improve their standard of living; each individual is a successful personal project. Well-educated, skilled workers become irreplaceable and can no longer be threatened by the use of automation and modern machinery.
4. Should job creation strategy be of local or international scope?
Job creation strategy must involve constant exchange between the various global communities to increase the added value drawn from the pool of experiences of various countries. Job creation must be a global science for which universities the world over must create special departments. Research is needed to study the effect of the combination of different factors, including the workforce, on production; similarly, international cooperation can make modern technology and expertise available to countries that need them.
5. How can local and global job creation be organised and controlled?
Job creation strategy has to link local strategies of various communities into one global network forming a massive pool of knowledge. This can be achieved through the developing of a professional software application.
6. What are the components of the job creation equation?
Job creation involves the capacity for job creation, marketing analysis, technical support, financial support, legislative support, availability of workforce, national and international demand for jobs, teamwork, and training support.
Job creation must adapt to the ever-changing conditions on the national and international level. Given all the above, will the human family be able to set a strategy that can act as a firewall against economic crises?
Watani International
2 November 2016