2015年-世界发展银行全球_ICT_for_Jobs_in_the_Pacific_Island_Countries_59页_2mb

Summary of "ICT for Jobs in the Pacific Island Countries" (May 2015)

Core Content

This report explores the potential of the Global Outsourcing Services (GOS) industry, including the emerging concept of Online Outsourcing (OO), to create inclusive and sustainable job opportunities in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), particularly for youth and women. It leverages international experiences and data to assess the feasibility of leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for employment generation in the region.

Main Purpose

The study aims to examine how PICs can benefit from the GOS industry by developing an enabling environment for technology transfer, innovation, and digital entrepreneurship. It focuses on Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga as pilot countries, analyzing the job creation potential and the broader socioeconomic implications of GOS and OO in the Pacific.

Key Findings

• ICT Revolution in the Pacific: The region is undergoing a significant ICT transformation, with improved Internet connectivity and mobile penetration. This presents an opportunity for PICs to access global markets and address employment challenges.
• Youth Unemployment: The Pacific region has a high youth population and significant youth unemployment, which is a major development challenge. The GOS industry could help address this by offering new employment channels.
• GOS Market Size: In 2013, the global GOS market was valued at approximately $952 billion, with $648 billion in IT Outsourcing (ITO) and $304 billion in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 4.7% for BPO and 6.0% for ITO by 2017.
• Job Creation Potential: The GOS industry is projected to create four million direct jobs globally by 2016, with each direct job generating about 2.5 indirect jobs. For PICs, the optimistic case suggests significant direct job creation potential, especially in BPO.
• Fiji's Position: Fiji is the only PIC with existing GOS experience, hosting major BPO operations such as ANZ Pacific Operations and Mindpearl. It has also won the European Outsourcing Association's Offshoring Destination of the Year Award in 2014, highlighting its readiness for GOS development.
• Online Outsourcing (OO): OO is a new and evolving GOS approach that allows workers from anywhere in the world to perform tasks via online marketplaces. The global OO market was estimated at $2 billion in 2013, with Elance-oDesk as the leading platform.
• Competitive Advantages of PICs:
  • Young and qualified labor force for BPO tasks.
  • Competitive minimum wage costs.
  • Improving Internet infrastructure.
  • Availability of international micropayment mechanisms.
  • Political support for ICT development.
  • Basic investment incentives, especially in Fiji.
  • Higher ease of doing business than major GOS destinations like India and the Philippines.
  • Nearshoring potential to Australia and New Zealand due to cultural and time zone similarities.

Key Challenges

• Small Labor Pools: The limited size of the labor force restricts the ability to serve large clients and may limit the industry's potential impact.
• High Internet Costs: Despite improvements, Internet costs for businesses and individuals remain relatively high.
• Uncertainty in Youth Skills and Motivation: Youth may have higher wage expectations than the minimum wage, and there is uncertainty about their readiness for quality BPO tasks.
• Limited OO Experience: There is very little awareness or experience of OO in the PICs, which could hinder its adoption.

Recommendations

• Phased Approach: The report recommends a phased and focused approach for developing the GOS industry in PICs, starting with pilot programs in a selected lead country.
• Pilot Programs:
  • Traditional GOS Pilot: Targeting nearshoring/offshoring businesses, with the aim of creating 1,000 direct and 2,500 indirect jobs. Estimated cost: $4.5 million over 1.5 years.
  • Online Outsourcing Pilot: Focused on testing OO readiness, with a scope of creating 300 jobs. Estimated cost: $500,000 over one year.
• Collaboration and Expertise: The need for international expertise and collaboration is emphasized to ensure the success of these pilots.
• Flying Geese Strategy: A regional "flying geese" approach is suggested, with Fiji as the lead, followed by Tonga and Samoa, and then other PICs in the final phase.

Conclusion

The GOS industry has significant job creation potential for PICs, especially in the context of improved connectivity and the need for inclusive employment. While traditional GOS may have a larger global market impact, OO offers a unique opportunity for PICs to overcome geographic and demographic constraints. The report concludes that developing the GOS industry in PICs requires a realistic, phased, and strategic approach to ensure long-term success and sustainability.