The future of work
In the last week of October I had the opportunity to participate in the conference on The Future of Work and Skills in Emerging Markets , organized at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , by J-PAL (The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab), GBL (Good Business Lab) and UC San Diego .
Visiting Boston (United States) for the first time was fascinating, and I was there to represent Fundación Corona in the final discussion on the Future of Work, partnerships, and the role of evidence . It was a fast-paced, intense, productive day, full of learning.
My experience at the event can be summarized in three valuable lessons that not only illuminated the vision of the future of work, but also offered essential perspectives to address the challenges ahead.
1. Key reflections from Esther Duflo: We begin with the central conversation, led by Esther Duflo, the second woman and youngest person to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics. From her speech, I highlight the following messages:
As basic as it may seem, the best way to run a company in favor of job creation and sustainability is by focusing on business efficiency and worker productivity.
To define a quality job, it is important that it is a stable job and that the income is in line with the activities, but also that there is well-being in the work environments, development of skills and empowerment of the workers.
For the labor inclusion of women, along with their empowerment as workers, it is essential to have work environments that are and appear safe , while the structure of hours must be compatible with caregiving duties.
Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence, although there are many questions to answer, an initial hypothesis is that the revolution that will come with it will not be in favor of workers.
2. Skills, Leadership, and Sustainability from Different Perspectives: Next, we had the opportunity to listen to three panels led by professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University , representatives from major companies in India and the United States, as well as international organizations and foundations from around the world. From this presentation, I would highlight the following:
Skills are the foundation of civilization. In contemporary societies, a balance between technical and socio-emotional skills is required both to obtain and retain employment. In the face of artificial intelligence, for example, adaptability will play a key role.
To accelerate women's leadership, inclusion, and skills development in the workplace, in addition to widely discussed measures (such as 're-skilling', mentoring, flexibility, psycho-social counseling, and harassment prevention), emphasis was placed on making visible and taking specific measures regarding sexual health and rights.
Different ways in which supply chains can contribute to promoting inclusive employment and other corporate sustainability policies were analyzed. The most innovative approaches concerned supplier certification and the involvement of shopkeepers.
3. What role are Civil Society Organizations playing?: To close the day, Alison Fahey , Director of Policy and Communications at J-PAL , moderated a conversation in which I participated along with Jennifer Hansel , Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , and Katrina Gordon , Senior Manager at Humanity United . This is what we shared:
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seriously committed to the economic empowerment of women by improving digital infrastructure, closing financing gaps, and increasing their productivity; the latter through their participation in defining agricultural policies, improving health conditions, and strengthening care systems.
Humanity United is focused on building peace by preventing forced labor and human trafficking. To this end, they promote worker empowerment, strengthen corporate accountability, and create conditions for safe labor transit for migrant populations.
At Fundación Corona, we share the inclusive employment model and the perspective of systemic change, then delving into financial innovation initiatives that excite us: the expansion of pay for results, the application of income sharing agreements in the digital sector, the challenges of connecting with green jobs, and financing tailored to transformative ideas.
Facing a future of work marked by the uncertainty of artificial intelligence, the imperative task is to forge strategies that guarantee an effective and beneficial job transition for workers. The journey toward this new paradigm requires not only the adoption of adaptive skills, but also the implementation of inclusive policies.
Also, when addressing gender issues, it is essential to highlight that policies promoting equality and respect for sexual rights not only create more equitable work environments but also contribute to sustainable economic growth. There is still much progress to be made in this area, as significant gender gaps persist in the Latin American business world.
The challenge then lies in transforming uncertainty into concrete opportunities, where innovation, equity and sustainable development converge to shape a more equitable future of work.