Developing Diverse Talents: Fostering Inclusion in the Workforce
In an era where the digital economy is rapidly expanding, the skills landscape is undergoing significant shifts, with experts predicting that certain skills may become obsolete within just two years. This development, coupled with a fragmented labour market seeing an increase in self-employment and fiercer competition, has resulted in many corporations failing to invest in the ongoing training and education of their workforce.
evidence shows that employees in larger companies are more likely to receive extensive training opportunities than their counterparts in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This disparity is expected to widen as the proportion of self-employed and contract workers continues to grow.
UNI, a prominent advocacy group, urges equality in training opportunities for all workers, regardless of their employment status. A proposed solution entails the establishment of national education and training funds, from which companies will contribute through taxes. These funds should be managed by a partnership between the social partners, the State, and companies, including platform and cloud businesses. Workers would then have access to funding for lost income and education fees from this shared pool.
The current landscape shows a mix of recent legislative activity, budget proposals, and ongoing rulemaking processes regarding national education and training funds, but a comprehensive national fund for universal worker training still remains to be implemented. In the United States, there has been limited focus on workforce training funds across various employment sectors, as federal policies and proposals primarily concentrate on higher education financing or specific programs such as charter schools or K–12 education. Additionally, existing workforce development programs are often geared towards dislocated workers, youth, and underserved populations, falling short of providing universal coverage.
In the absence of a dedicated national fund or policy initiative specifically addressing ongoing or lifelong education and training for workers in SMEs, the self-employed, or those in platform/cloud-based employment, state and local initiatives as well as private sector and platform-based solutions may offer partial relief, but these are not uniformly available or target newer forms of employment. Overall, the establishment of a comprehensive national education and training fund for all types of workers, including those in SMEs, self-employment, or platform/cloud-based businesses, remains a significant gap in the United States.
- The establishment of national education and training funds, as proposed by UNI, could provide equal opportunities for all workers, regardless of their employment status, ensuring they have access to skills-training in the digital economy.
- In the digital age, with certain skills becoming obsolete in just two years, the need for ongoing education and training is crucial for personal-growth, career-development, and remaining competitive in the business world.
- Technology-focused businesses, like those operating in the platform and cloud sectors, should contribute to these national education and training funds, as they benefit from the skilled workforce they employ, and have a responsibility in ensuring lifelong learning opportunities.
- As fragmented labour markets and self-employment increase, corporations must reconsider their approach to education and self-development, moving away from a solely internal training model and engaging with national education and training funds for the long-term growth and well-being of their workers.
