Economic, Social Council releases 2022 report on fourth industrial revolution, labour market

AMMAN — The Economic and Social Council on Tuesday launched the 2022 State of the Country Report on the fourth industrial revolution and labour market.

The report highlighted the importance of the fourth industrial revolution and its impact on the Jordanian labour market by analysing the readiness of different economic sectors and harmonizing the educational system in providing the job opportunities required by the labour market in the future, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The report is particularly important in light of public and private sector efforts to keep pace with recent digital economic and technological transformations and developments and the emerging developments in the labour market.

It is closely aligned with national priorities and the Economic Modernization Vision, the public sector reform roadmap and the political modernization plan.

ESC President Mousa Shtewi noted that the report is characterised by providing a diagnosis of the conditions of various sectors and skills required in the future and the requirements of the labour market,

Shtewi pointed out that the report focused on the need to create a strategic national framework for entering the fourth industrial revolution and identify the policies or changes required in different sectors, including the academic sector.

The report covered seven chapters on the most significant economic and social developments and an assessment of key sectors. 

It reviewed the main pillars of the fourth industrial revolution, the economic and social impacts, challenges, their positive and negative aspects on the national economy, the characteristics of the labour market, the conditions and outcomes of education and its connection with labour market needs.

In the education and training aspect, the report recommended that technical and vocational education programmes be expanded to provide alternatives to acquiring the skills of the fourth industrial revolution for those unable or wishing to obtain higher education.

As for the research and development aspect, the report called for supporting research and development at the national level to encourage creativity in reaching solutions provided by fourth industrial revolution technologies to local economic problems and challenges, and boost the partnership between universities and the private sector.

In the investment and financing strategies aspect, the report recommended enhancing public-private partnerships to invest in fourth industrial revolution projects to maximize companies' participation in the public plans.

Regarding the social protection aspect, the report called for developing a strategy, in cooperation with the private sector, to deal with workers who are expected to be laid off to develop the fourth industrial revolution, and provide workers with protection.