Foreword
Globalisation, technological progress and demographic change are having a profound impact on labour markets, affecting both the quantity and quality of jobs that are available, as well as how and by whom they are carried out. The future of work offers unparalleled opportunities, but there are also significant challenges associated with these mega-trends. It is important that policy makers strengthen the resilience and adaptability of labour markets so that workers and countries can manage the transition with the least possible disruption, while maximising the potential benefits.
Against this backdrop, the OECD Future of Work initiative looks at how demographic change, globalisation and technological progress are affecting job quantity and quality, as well as labour market inclusiveness – and what this means for labour market, skills and social policy.
This report contributes to this initiative by providing a snapshot of the policy actions being taken by countries in response to growing diversity in forms of employment, with the aim of encouraging peer learning where countries are facing similar issues. In recent years, many countries have seen the emergence of, and/or growth in, particular labour contract types that diverge from the standard employment relationship and are reflecting on whether existing policies and institutions are capable of addressing effectively the current (and future) challenges of a rapidly changing world of work.
The work on this report was carried out by Marguerita Lane in the Skills and Employability Division of the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, with inputs from Ann Vourc’h, under the supervision of Stijn Broecke (Future of Work Team Manager) and Mark Keese (Head of the Skills and Employability Division). The report benefitted from helpful comments provided by colleagues from the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs: Stefano Scarpetta (Director) and the authors of the 2019 OECD Employment Outlook; and from Anna Milanez from the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. Project assistance was provided by Katerina Kodlova.
Thanks to all survey respondents within the Ministries of Labour in the participating countries, without whose efforts, this report would not have been possible. The report was also informed by incisive contributions by participants at the workshop and conference, held at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris on 16 March 2018 and 7 November 2018, respectively.
Finally, the Secretariat is particularly grateful to Max Uebe, Istvan Vanyolos, Carola Bouton and Chiara Riondino from the European Commission for their considerable contributions to ensuring successful completion of this project.
This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.