Randstad : CEO Jacques van den Broek calls for OECD members to brace for digital transformation’s impact on skills needs

31 May 2016

Digital transformation of the global economy is leading to widespread deindustrialization and job polarization in OECD countries. As a result, business, policy and education leaders must rethink what new skills will be needed in this new era and help workers prepare for the changes ahead, according to Randstad CEO Jacques van den Broek.

His comment comes ahead of his contribution to the annual OECD Forum in Paris and serves as both a rallying cry and a caution to leaders in the OECD markets, where digital transformation is having the most profound effects on those economies. Randstad is launching 'Flexibility@work 2016' today, an annual report on flexible labor and employment. This year's report includes the sub-theme 'Future of Work in the Digital Age, evidence from OECD countries', by the University of Utrecht and the University of Leuven, showing polarization is growing as the number of high- and low-wage jobs is rising while those paying mid-wages are diminishing. A critical reason for this trend is the effect of automation, robotization and outsourcing of many jobs.

'Job automation and outsourcing to markets outside of OECD is having a significant impact on our member states and their workers', Van den Broek comments. 'This transformation presents both opportunities and challenges for employers, policy makers and educators, because they need to understand the powerful dynamics behind the changes and develop policies that will help workers at all levels obtain the skills they need to thrive in the high-tech era.'

According to 'Flexibility@work 2016', demand for STEM skills will increasingly drive job polarization. As more high-skill jobs are created in support of digital products and technology, a corresponding rise in low-skill employment will occur. In fact, the researchers revealed, for every high-tech job created, an additional 2.5 to 4.4 jobs are created as a result.

Randstad is Gold sponsor of the annual OECD Forum, which has become a global showcase for thoughtful and revealing discussions on economic trends, especially in the topic of human capital. This year several Randstad representatives will discuss the findings of 'Flexibility@work 2016, Future of Work in the Digital Age'. The full report is available on our website: http://www.randstad.com/press/research-reports.

Randstad specializes in solutions in the field of flexible work and human resources services. Our services range from regular temporary staffing and permanent placements to Inhouse, Professionals, Search & Selection, outplacement, and HR Solutions. The Randstad Group is one of the leading HR services providers in the world, with top-three positions in Argentina, Belgium & Luxembourg, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the United States, as well as major positions in Australia and Japan. In 2015, Randstad had approximately 29,750 corporate employees and around 4,473 branches and Inhouse locations in 39 countries around the world. Randstad generated revenue of € 19.2 billion in 2015. Randstad was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands. Randstad Holding nv is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, where options for stocks in Randstad are also traded. For more information, seewww.randstad.com.

For more information, please contact: Machteld Merens, telephone: +31 (0)20 569 56 23