Inaugural Data And Community Development Forum To Address Data's Role In Global Labour Market Policies

The Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) is hosting the first 'Regional Data and Community Development Forum' from 9th to 10th October. This event will highlight the crucial role data plays in fostering economic growth, community development, and informing planning and decision-making processes. Discussions will span various sectors, including healthcare, education, infrastructure, sustainability, technology, and business.

On the first day, a panel titled 'Overcoming Unemployment with a Click' will be held on the ‘Futuristic Data’ Stage. This session will delve into how governments can access essential data to predict workforce trends. It will also discuss collaborative efforts needed to create a comprehensive data collection ecosystem and strengthen public-private partnerships for better labour market forecasting.

In the business sector, experts at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre will discuss using data to forecast industry trends. They aim to develop flexible labour market policies, improve workplace environments, boost productivity, and support entrepreneurs and SMEs. The forum will feature discussions led by government officials, decision-makers from both sectors, business figures, and entrepreneurs.

Another session on day one titled '4-Day Work Week: Data Settles the Productivity Debate' will take place on the ‘Innovative Data’ Stage. This discussion will present local and international experiences showing how data can enhance workplace environments and employee well-being. It will focus on transforming data insights into actionable decisions through workplace quality surveys and research.

The second day features a session called 'Why do Businesses Fail?' on the ‘Futuristic Data’ Stage. This discussion will address challenges SMEs face in effectively using data. It aims to improve data access for businesses, particularly SMEs and startups, by leveraging customer data platforms (CDPs) to enhance operations. Insights from large corporations' experiences will also be shared with entrepreneurs.

In collaboration with ESCWA, another session on day two titled 'Integration of Traditional and Non-Traditional Data for Labour Market Forecasting in the Arab Region' will occur. This session focuses on combining traditional data like government statistics with non-traditional sources such as social media data for strategic decision-making. The integration aims to anticipate future challenges and offer innovative solutions to boost economic opportunities in the Arab region.

Forum's Broader Impact

The Regional Data & Community Development Forum serves as a key platform for harnessing data to benefit individuals and communities. It brings together governments, decision-makers from public and private institutions, economic experts, entrepreneurs, researchers, and data specialists. The forum provides extensive regional experience in sharing knowledge and insights while offering opportunities to consolidate efforts for developing strategies that enhance the social impact of data.

This gathering ultimately seeks to improve quality of life by supporting sustainable development goals through innovative strategies derived from shared knowledge at this premier platform.

With inputs from WAM