hen I'm back in my homeland, Tunisia, I find immense joy in taking the family dogs for a walk in our neighborhood. With time, I’ve become familiar with my fellow dog walkers, and one of them happens to be Ibrahim, a young man from West Africa. We quickly built a friendship, bonding over our shared walks and conversations in the park. Ibrahim's life story leaves me with conflicting feelings of inspiration and sadness. He arrived in Tunisia with the sole purpose of saving enough money to cross the Mediterranean by boat to Europe. Ibrahim is just one example of an extraordinary individual constrained by circumstances in his home country—someone possessing remarkable intelligence, but never receiving an opportunity to capitalize on it.
This experience illustrates the lack of opportunities for such people worldwide.
At the same time, across the globe, the labor market is experiencing its tightest conditions in fifty years, particularly evident in regions of the Global North. A case in point is Ontario, Canada, where Premier Doug Ford emphasized the abundance of employment opportunities. He stated that "endless job opportunities exist in Ontario," with the possibility of finding employment in every sector just by walking down any street in the province. The demand for workers is so significant that they require 380,000 individuals to fill the existing job vacancies at present, as per Ford's remarks.
Reinventing Job Pathways
Taken together, these stories beg the question of why we don't have a system that supports and uplifts such individuals, enabling them to improve their lives by contributing their skills to address the labor shortages in developed countries. In our increasingly interconnected world, talent knows no boundaries. Developing countries are home to countless talented individuals seeking avenues for personal growth and a better quality of life. Simultaneously, developed nations face significant labor shortages that threaten economic growth and social stability.
Creating such a platform could potentially alleviate the massive shortage of labor in various Western countries and help brilliant individuals like Ibrahim lead fulfilling lives while making meaningful contributions to society. To address these challenges and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8)—promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth—it becomes imperative to reinvent job pathways for talented individuals from developing countries.
Canada, known for its prosperous economy and high standard of living, is currently grappling with a massive labor shortage, especially in critical sectors like healthcare. The aging population and an increasing demand for healthcare services have put tremendous pressure on the existing workforce. To maintain the quality of healthcare provision and ensure the well-being of its citizens, Canada needs to explore innovative solutions to bridge this labor gap.
One potential solution to address labor shortages in the healthcare sector is to focus on entry-level positions. While advanced medical roles require specialized expertise, entry-level jobs are essential for the smooth functioning of healthcare systems. Talented individuals from developing countries can fill these roles, providing valuable support and alleviating the burden on the healthcare infrastructure of developed nations. By offering employment opportunities in entry-level healthcare positions, developed nations not only address their labor shortages but also provide pathways for career advancement and skill development for individuals from developing countries.
As we evaluate whether we are on the right track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, the reinvention of job pathways for talented individuals from developing countries represents a significant step forward. By enabling individuals to contribute their skills in developed nations, we promote inclusive economic growth and reduce global disparities. However, it is important to approach this initiative with careful consideration for various factors and establish partnerships that facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building between developed and developing countries.
To ensure the successful attainment of SDG8, it is crucial to implement robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These frameworks should evaluate the number of employment opportunities provided, the impact on economic growth, and the well-being of both developed and developing nations. Collaboration among governments, international organizations, and civil society plays a pivotal role in fostering transparency, accountability, and the alignment of efforts towards achieving SDG8.
Reinventing job pathways for talented individuals from developing countries to excel and better their lives in developed nations holds immense potential for promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth (SDG8). By filling job vacancies, particularly entry-level roles in healthcare, with talented individuals from developing countries, developed nations can address labor shortages while providing opportunities for personal growth and skill development. However, ethical considerations and partnerships that foster knowledge exchange are crucial for ensuring a balanced approach. By monitoring progress and evaluating the impact, we can stay on the right track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, fostering a more prosperous and equitable world for all.
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Reinvent Job Pathways to Solve the Inequality Gap
AI Illustration via Adobe Stock.
September 23, 2023
The world is suffering two different labor market crises, with abundant talent in parts of the world but no pathways to jobs while in the Global North labor markets are extremely tight. Reinventing job pathways to help bring talent where it is needed can be a game changer, writes Elyas Felfoul.
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hen I'm back in my homeland, Tunisia, I find immense joy in taking the family dogs for a walk in our neighborhood. With time, I’ve become familiar with my fellow dog walkers, and one of them happens to be Ibrahim, a young man from West Africa. We quickly built a friendship, bonding over our shared walks and conversations in the park. Ibrahim's life story leaves me with conflicting feelings of inspiration and sadness. He arrived in Tunisia with the sole purpose of saving enough money to cross the Mediterranean by boat to Europe. Ibrahim is just one example of an extraordinary individual constrained by circumstances in his home country—someone possessing remarkable intelligence, but never receiving an opportunity to capitalize on it.
This experience illustrates the lack of opportunities for such people worldwide.
At the same time, across the globe, the labor market is experiencing its tightest conditions in fifty years, particularly evident in regions of the Global North. A case in point is Ontario, Canada, where Premier Doug Ford emphasized the abundance of employment opportunities. He stated that "endless job opportunities exist in Ontario," with the possibility of finding employment in every sector just by walking down any street in the province. The demand for workers is so significant that they require 380,000 individuals to fill the existing job vacancies at present, as per Ford's remarks.
Reinventing Job Pathways
Taken together, these stories beg the question of why we don't have a system that supports and uplifts such individuals, enabling them to improve their lives by contributing their skills to address the labor shortages in developed countries. In our increasingly interconnected world, talent knows no boundaries. Developing countries are home to countless talented individuals seeking avenues for personal growth and a better quality of life. Simultaneously, developed nations face significant labor shortages that threaten economic growth and social stability.
Creating such a platform could potentially alleviate the massive shortage of labor in various Western countries and help brilliant individuals like Ibrahim lead fulfilling lives while making meaningful contributions to society. To address these challenges and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8)—promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth—it becomes imperative to reinvent job pathways for talented individuals from developing countries.
Canada, known for its prosperous economy and high standard of living, is currently grappling with a massive labor shortage, especially in critical sectors like healthcare. The aging population and an increasing demand for healthcare services have put tremendous pressure on the existing workforce. To maintain the quality of healthcare provision and ensure the well-being of its citizens, Canada needs to explore innovative solutions to bridge this labor gap.
One potential solution to address labor shortages in the healthcare sector is to focus on entry-level positions. While advanced medical roles require specialized expertise, entry-level jobs are essential for the smooth functioning of healthcare systems. Talented individuals from developing countries can fill these roles, providing valuable support and alleviating the burden on the healthcare infrastructure of developed nations. By offering employment opportunities in entry-level healthcare positions, developed nations not only address their labor shortages but also provide pathways for career advancement and skill development for individuals from developing countries.
As we evaluate whether we are on the right track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, the reinvention of job pathways for talented individuals from developing countries represents a significant step forward. By enabling individuals to contribute their skills in developed nations, we promote inclusive economic growth and reduce global disparities. However, it is important to approach this initiative with careful consideration for various factors and establish partnerships that facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building between developed and developing countries.
To ensure the successful attainment of SDG8, it is crucial to implement robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These frameworks should evaluate the number of employment opportunities provided, the impact on economic growth, and the well-being of both developed and developing nations. Collaboration among governments, international organizations, and civil society plays a pivotal role in fostering transparency, accountability, and the alignment of efforts towards achieving SDG8.
Reinventing job pathways for talented individuals from developing countries to excel and better their lives in developed nations holds immense potential for promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth (SDG8). By filling job vacancies, particularly entry-level roles in healthcare, with talented individuals from developing countries, developed nations can address labor shortages while providing opportunities for personal growth and skill development. However, ethical considerations and partnerships that foster knowledge exchange are crucial for ensuring a balanced approach. By monitoring progress and evaluating the impact, we can stay on the right track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, fostering a more prosperous and equitable world for all.
