Work and Wisdom; that’s the inscription in my school’s shield.
I got contacted by school friends trying to organise a reunion in november (which obviously i will not attend because it will cost me a few thou before i even land in Lima), which in turn drove me to think about the old country
Peru has an official unemployment rate that hovers around 9%. If you look under the hood though, the nation sports a whopping 55% underemployment, (skills and workers being underutilised). This stat is strongly correlated with and aided by the strength and size of the informal economy in the country and the rest of LA. Anecdotally, and ex-president mentioned in humorous tone a few years ago, that Peru was proud to have taxi drivers with the highest uni degrees in the world.
Not too funny, as you can gather.
In the context of all the talk and written word about global talent shortages, it’s worth reminding ourselves of what global means, who is included and who’s not. I think of the number of unemployed and underemployed people across the planet who are an English and/or Studies accreditation course away from being ready for full employment in the first world. Great opportunity for learning organisations; great opportunity for the establishment of an international candidate pipeline that looks beyond the usual english speaking sphere
…this not without feeling a bit of remorse about the fact that a larger talent exodus from the old country is only going to sink it further. Fly or Fight. Work and Wisdom.
