As the name suggests, “The Open Forum” is one Davos event to which all are welcome. No magic World Economic Forum badge required! I attended a very interesting session on unemployment.
ADVERTISEMENTThe International Labour Organisation (ILO) presented shocking statistics showing that 4.2 million more people joined the ranks of the unemployed in 2012 and projected that things are only expected to get worse.
Armed with those figures, ILO Director General Guy Ryder issued a stark warning to the Davos elite, telling them the time for back slapping over brighter economic prospects was way too premature.
There were also warnings that if action is not taken fast we will no longer be talking about one lost generation but several, with rising unemployment a ticking time bomb that could trigger greater social unrest.
The panel had some words of advice for young people, such as “don’t aim too high” and “don’t worry about what your first job is”.
The message was clear: “Just get a job and get experience of what working life is like.”