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We are living in a financially fragile world. There is economic growth, but not enough opportunities to find decent work. Globally, more than 200 million people are still unemployed, but there has been progress in standards of labour and work. This is not sustainable. Learn from experts from the International Labour Organization, Harvard University, and more about the state of work in our world, and what it will take to ensure steady, inclusive and sustainable economic development for all.
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National economies have grown substantially since the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century yet people have not necessarily seen an increase in opportunities to find decent work or earn a decent income. In fact, in some places, the increased productivity and rising profits associated with automation have directly impacted the availability of decent jobs. According to the International Labour Organization, more than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015, and more than 600 million new jobs are needed by 2030 just to keep pace with the growth of the working-age population. We also need to improve working conditions for the 780 million women and men who are employed but not earning enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. In addressing these core issues we will not only see increasing decent work opportunities but also more robust, inclusive and poverty-reducing growth.
This course explores the past and future of work in the context of the SDGs, particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. It examines the state of income and employment around the world, barriers to employment, policies to promote economic opportunity, and the future of work in our rapidly changing world. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to achieving the SDGs, as are effective measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind, the world can achieve full and productive employment and decent work, for all women and men, by 2030.
This seven-module massive open online course (MOOC) provides an in-depth look at the issues of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The topics covered include structural shifts in economies and work; informality, gender and child labor, the modern welfare state; the future of work, and more. The course concludes with a special module by the ILO on realizing decent work for all and achieving SDG 8.
This course is for:
Policy professionals who want to understand frameworks for SDG planning
Development practitioners seeking knowledge on goals-based development
Advanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in economics, development, and other key concepts related to the SDGs
The link between employment, work, income and wealth
Global perspectives on changes to formal employment
The challenges of child labor, gender disparity and informal employment
Modern welfare state and novel policy instruments
Structural and institutional models for the future of work
Artificial Intelligence and the future of work
What it takes to achieve SDG 8 and realize decent work for all, featured in a special module by the ILO.
Module 1: Decent Work for Sustainable Development
Module 2: Transitions in Employment and Work
Module 3: Challenges of Work: Informality, Gender and Child Labor
Module 4: Current Policy Responses
Module 5: Structural and Institutional Models for the Future of Work
Module 6: Future of Jobs and Work
Module 7: Special Module in Partnership with the ILO: Achieving SDG 8 and Realizing Decent Work for All
