Future of Work

How we can build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies? Each episode dives into global challenges—from climate change and digital transformation to inequality and economic recovery—through conversations with leading experts, policymakers, and changemakers.

Hosted by the OECD, the series connects data, policies, and human stories to spotlight the innovations and ideas shaping a better future for people and the planet.

NOTE: The opinions expressed and arguments employed in the content displayed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the OECD, its Member countries, or any stakeholders who have contributed to or participated in any related work.

OECD Podcasts | A Better tomorrow

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Julius spreekt met Ype Driessen en Linda Duits over seks in films.

48. Seks!

In this edition of OECD Podcasts, Shayne MacLachlan from the OECD Centre of Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities is joined by Jesse Shapins from Urban Partners. Together they discuss how Urban Partners’ involvement in projects on local, municipal and national levels can help to achieve climate action and social sustainability.

In their conversation, they cover the concept of green and thriving neighbourhoods and cities, emphasising the fact that “a great city is not just green buildings”. They also investigate examples of the repurposing of state land and efforts to improve the social landscape in less-advantaged areas. 
Finally, they explore how to bridge the investment gap in climate action to ensure that local development is inclusive, green and accessible to all local communities.

Guest: Jesse Shapins - Co-Head of Neighborhood Investments at Urban Partners.

For more on OECD Local Development https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/local-development.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html
To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/
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Shaping tomorrow’s cities with Urban Partners

Guest: Frida Grundhal, Project Co-ordinator, Yalla Trappan.
In this edition of OECD Podcasts, Katrina Baker and Shayne MacLachlan are Joined by Frida Grundahl from Yalla Trappen; a groundbreaking social enterprise dedicated to creating job opportunities and fostering financial independence for Sweden’s foreign-born women. Statistically, foreign-born women are said to be one of the most distant from the labour market and Yalla Trappen is working to empower these women by giving them an opportunity to break down their social isolation, and to help them stand on their own two feet financially.
In their conversation, Shayne and Frida discuss examples of Yalla Trappen’s work and strategies, the struggles of establishing a non-profit in a competitive environment and how Yalla Trappen has partnered with business and local government to crack policy challenges regarding foreign-born women and getting them meaningful employment.

For more on OECD Local Development https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/local-development.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html
To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/
Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/en/about/newsletters.html

Breaking barriers to the labour market for women with Yalla Trappen

Volunteers are the beating heart of any event, from the Olympics to your local school sports day. But beyond the medals and podiums, what impact does volunteering have on individuals, communities, and the broader economy?

In this episode, we speak to Max Jablonowski and Betty Anne Bryce, who volunteered at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They share their behind-the-scenes experiences, the personal and professional skills they gained, and why volunteering is a powerful force for social good. They also explain what policy makers can do to support and sustain this essential activity.

So, join us as we explore the people-powered force behind the Olympics and discuss how we can harness its full potential for communities everywhere.

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

Guests:
- Max Jablonowski, Communications Manager for Business at OECD
- Betty-Ann Bryce, Senior Policy Analyst at the OECD (Centre for Entrepreneurship, Regions, and Cities in the Regional and Rural Unit)

To learn more about the report: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/unleashing-the-potential-of-volunteering-for-local-development_deab71bd-en.html
Discover the OECD involvement: https://www.oecd.org/en/networks/oecd-local-development-forum.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to https://www.oecd.org/en/about.html
To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit https://www.oecd.org/
Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/newsletters.html

Winners without medals: The legacy of volunteers

What happens when First Nations take the lead in shaping the future of clean energy and infrastructure in Indigenous communities? In this episode, we hear from Mark Podlasly, CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) and member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia. He speaks with Sinead Teevan from the OECD about how the coalition is helping First Nations secure ownership in major energy and infrastructure projects. The FNMPC, now representing 175 communities across Canada, focuses on the economic, environmental, and public policy interests of its members.
 
Together, they explore the power of Indigenous consent, the importance of equitable partnerships, and why integrating Indigenous values into policy and investment decisions isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential for reaching climate goals and long-term prosperity. With real-world examples, from clean energy projects to revenue-sharing agreements, this conversation highlights how economic reconciliation is not only possible, but already underway in Canada.
 
Looking ahead, Mark shares a bold vision: Indigenous communities not only participating in, but leading, global investment through Indigenous-controlled capital. And the world is taking notice. Groups from Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Latin America are reaching out to learn how First Nations in Canada are achieving results. 

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

Guests:
Sinead Teevan is currently working as a Policy Consultant at the OECD, working on regional, rural and urban development. She is Indigenous from Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, and has gained valuable experience in various roles, including as a Policy Intern at the Ministry of Energy in Ontario. Additionally, she been an active member of the Indigenous Student Association at Western University.
 
Mark Podlasly, a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia, is CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) in Canada. FNMPC is a national organization of 175+ Indigenous communities working to ensure environmental and economic values are reflected in major projects on traditional territories. He has global experience leading large-scale energy and infrastructure projects and has delivered strategy programs for companies like Unilever and Goldman Sachs. A frequent contributor on Indigenous-industry economic reconciliation, his work spans ESG, climate policy, and governance.

To learn more about policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/regional-rural-and-urban-development.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to https://www.oecd.org/en/about.html
To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit https://www.oecd.org/
Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/newsletters.html

Power Shift: When First Nations Lead the Future

What happens when we flip the urban planning script — putting people, not cars, at the heart of our cities and regions? In this 15-minute episode, Professor Carlos Moreno - creator of the “15-minute city” and now a leading voice behind the “30-minute region” - joins the OECD’s Soo-Jin Kim to explore how we can build more inclusive, connected and resilient places.

From the sidewalks of Paris to rural areas reimagining public services, Carlos shares a bold vision of proximity, empowerment, and local opportunity. Tune in to hear how the future of urban and regional development might be just around the corner — literally.

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

Guests:
Carlos Moreno is a Franco-Colombian researcher and Professor at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, internationally recognised for developing the 15-minute city concept. He is currently expanding his work through the “30-minute region,” a model designed to bring proximity and accessibility to entire territories beyond urban centres. Carlos serves as Scientific Director of the ETI Chair (“Entrepreneurship – Territory – Innovation”) and advises cities and international organisations on urban innovation and sustainable planning.

Soo-Jin Kim is Head of the Urban Policies and Reviews Unit at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities. Her work focuses on helping national and local governments shape more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities. She leads cross-country reviews, develops policy guidance, and brings international perspectives to urban development challenges.

To learn more about policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/urban-development.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to https://www.oecd.org/en/about.html
To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit https://www.oecd.org/
Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/newsletters.html

From the 15-minute city to the 30-minute region: Rethinking how we live and connect

Who are the Gilets Jaunes and what do they want? We talk to Sophie Pedder, who is Paris bureau chief of the Economist and author of "Revolution Francaise: Emmanuel Macron and the quest to reinvent a nation". 

Host: Clara Young
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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The Gilets Jaunes phenomenon: a conversation with The Economist’s Sophie Pedder

The days when people held a full-time job for most of their lives and accordingly received benefits are over. Nowadays, many of us are temps, self-employed, and artists. We work part-time, pick up gig work, take on zero-hour contracts. How do we reconcile social security like pensions, unemployment benefits, and medical insurance with these more fluid forms of work? We discuss this and ideas like Universal Basic Income with Monika Queisser, who is Head of Social Policy at the OECD. 

Host: Kate Lancaster   
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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Retrofitting social security to new ways of working: OECD’s Monika Queisser

When it comes to the jobs of the future, you can’t squeeze people out of the equation, says Ben Pring. An optimist, he believes that what makes us human, our soft skills, will be more valuable than ever. And as machines take on more dirty, dangerous or simply dull tasks, people will be able to do work that is more interesting, engaging and meaningful. Ben Pring is co-founder and leader of the Cognizant Center for the Future of Work and author of What To Do When Machines Do Everything. 

Host: Kate Lancaster
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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The jobs of the future will still need humans: Cognizant’s Ben Pring

New technologies such as automation and AI are rapidly reshaping our economies and our work. For Stefano Scarpetta, head of the directorate for employment, labour and social affairs at the OECD, these changes aren’t likely to lead to massive, technologically driven unemployment, but rather can bring opportunities if the right policies and support are in place. In order to build an inclusive future of work, governments – together with employers, trade unions and civil society – need to act now. Because if we wait to see exactly how technologies are changing our economies, we’ll always be too late.

Host: Kate Lancaster
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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What can governments do to be ready for the future of work? With OECD’s Stefano Scarpetta

Ever wonder what is meant by “human capital”? Then is the episode for you. Join OECD economists, Zuzana Smidova and Jarmila Botev, for an explanation of what human capital is, why it matters, and what we can do to boost human capital, whether as an individual or a country. And to find out even more about human capital and how your country measures up, visit oe.cd/human-capital.

Host: Kate Lancaster
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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What is human capital? With OECD’s Zuzana Smidova and Jarmila Botev

In early 2020, the employment rate in OECD countries hit a new record high, after the decade-long recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, with millions of people unable to go to work, an exceptionally stark drop in economic activity and unprecedented job losses. What needs to be done to get firms back in business and people back to work?

www.oecd.org/employment-outlook
www.oecd.org/coronavirus

Host: Kate Lancaster
Guest: Stefano Scarpetta, Director, Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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Overcoming the Covid-19 jobs crisis

Covid-19 has upended the jobs market. More than ever, people need to retrain to adapt to the change and loss in jobs. Governments and businesses require data to pinpoint what kinds of jobs the economy needs and what skills are missing, and then invest. Jacques van den Broek is the CEO and executive chair of the Executive Board of Randstad, a global leader in Human Resources services.

For more information, go to: www.oecd.org/coronavirus

Host: Clara Young
Producer: Robin Allison Davis

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How to survive the jobs shakeout? Skills, skills, skills, says Randstad's Jacques van den Broek

How can we all help shape better policies for better lives? OECD Podcasts bring you insightful interviews with experts and well-known personalities on such pressing challenges as inequality and inclusive growth, the economy, jobs, the digital transformation, climate change, the environment, education, healthcare, tax, trade, international co-operation, and more.


NOTE: The opinions expressed and arguments employed in the content displayed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the OECD, its Member countries, or any stakeholders who have contributed to or participated in any related work.