English: Connecting individuals with productive and fulfilling work is one of the most basic functions of any economy. But labor markets in countries around the world are increasingly unable to keep up rapid changes in the economy. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, millions of people cannot find work, yet companies in sectors from technology to health care cannot find people to fill open positions. Many individuals across countries feel overqualified or underutilized by their current jobs.

The Internet has disrupted a range of industries, and labor markets are ripe for change. Online talent platforms are harnessing the power of digital technologies to connect individuals with work opportunities in a faster and more personalized way. These platforms include websites that match individuals with job postings from traditional employers, the rapidly growing digital marketplaces of the new “gig economy,” and digital tools that help companies improve the way they hire and manage talent. These platforms have seen dramatic growth and adoption in recent years, and in the years ahead are poised to achieve critical scale.

In a new report to be released at New America, the McKinsey Global Institute sizes the economic potential of online talent platforms and explores the benefits and implications for individual workers, companies, and the broader economy.

The event will bring together industry experts, economists, business leaders, and policy makers to discuss how these technologies might address stubborn disconnects in labor markets around the world---and what it will take to capture their potential.

Agenda:

Senator Mark Warner @MarkWarner U.S. Senator from Virginia

Byron Auguste @Byron_Auguste Managing Director, Opportunity@Work

Allen Blue @AllenB VP Product Management and Co-Founder, LinkedIn

Aneesh Chopra @AneeshChopra Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, Hunch Analytics Former Chief Technology Officer of the United States Author, Innovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government

Thomas Friedman @TomFriedman Op-Ed Columnist, The New York Times Pulitzer Prize Winning Author

Susan Lund @SusanLund_DC

Partner, McKinsey Global Institute