Technology is a potent driver of productivity and economic growth and is also reshaping Europe's labor landscape. A World Bank report launched in Brussels late last year, "The Future of Work: Implications for Equity and Growth in Europe", delves into the transformation that technology is causing within European firms, changing their tasks and the skills they require, and widening the gap between highly educated and less-educated workers.
Among the key findings of the report:
Large and more productive firms adopt more technology, increasing their market size and productivity. This creates a positive link between technology and market concentration.
Technology enhances productivity and increases the demand for university graduates, intensifying wage gaps between highly educated and other workers.
Vocational education and training (VET) graduates are more likely to find employment than their peers with a general secondary education degree. However, this advantage fades away within five to seven years of entering the workforce.
The event will explore answers to the following questions:
How can governments promote technological benefits without amplifying societal divides?
What are the most effective strategies to promote technology adoption among small businesses and avoid market concentration?
What kind of reforms are necessary to ensure that education equips students and ongoing learners with the skills required in a dynamic and technology-driven job market characterized by continuous change?
Join us for this in-person event to discuss options to craft a future where technology's rewards are inclusive, benefiting every level of the society. The event is organized by the World Bank in partnership with the Polytechnic University of Bucharest and Aspen Institute Romania.
Attendance at this event requires prior registration through the following REGISTRATION LINK.
For questions, reach out to us at italos@worldbank.org and azambor@worldbank.org.
Event participation will be confirmed via email. Participants will be asked to show the confirmation email in order to access the event.
The main language of the event is English. Simultaneous translation will be available.