Why Less is More on Global Goals Week

Why Less is More on Global Goals Week

Many businesses recognize that sustainability helps growth in the long-term, not just for a company but for society. For ManpowerGroup, sustainability means both delivering a profit to shareholders and contributing to society in a larger way through quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities.

These goals align with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes goals to improve the lives of people around the world. All businesses have potential to commit to Doing Well By Doing Good and boost not just a bottom line, but global growth.

In total, the UN outlines 17 sustainable development global goals. But rather attempting to tackle everything at once, an organization can do the most good by playing to its strengths and seeing where it can meaningfully contribute to make the biggest impact.

“We know helping people upskill and reskill to achieve their potential is where we have the most impact,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chairman & CEO.

ManpowerGroup is striving to lead by example through narrow its focus on four key goals that helps work to change the world.

Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education. A sustainable workforce means providing the ability for employees to gain new skills and nurture learnability throughout their career journey, starting as soon as people enter the workforce. It’s especially important that employees grow along with an organization, as 45% of employers globally report difficulty finding the technical and human skills they need today. This also impacts the financial bottom line, as companies that embrace digital transformation are 26% more profitable than their competitors. The more your workforce is ready for work, the more sustainable it will become.

Sustainable Development Goal #5: Gender Equality. And after years of talking about this issue, there is still work to be done. We need more women in leadership. As world of work experts, ManpowerGroup works with more than 200 organizations to consult on what can be done to close the gap faster. We’re committed to provide practical recommendations that will help organizations reach the tipping point and move closer to Conscious Inclusion. As a result, we are helping organizations such as the Australian Defence Force build diversity in its ranks and create equal opportunity for everyone.

Sustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Every organizations wants to see their growth charts go up and to the right. But as technology disrupts and skills needs evolve, how can organizations ensure their workforce is prepared for the future of work? Sustainable growth starts by helping people develop the skills they need to be employable today and tomorrow. For ManpowerGroup sustainable progress means helping workers skill up and close the skills gap. One way we’re doing this is by retraining people from declining industries like textiles to work in high-tech, high-growth sectors like motorsport .

Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced Inequalities. A well-paying job can make a huge difference in anyone’s life—especially those who are struggling with global upheaval and the changing nature of work. ManpowerGroup works to enable all people to participate in the workforce, including people on the margins such as refugees and military veterans. We all share a hope of finding safety and stability—and employment helps reduce inequalities and make a more sustainable and stable world possible.

Sustainability is more than a buzzword. For organizations to thrive, sustainable practices means helping humanity and the bottom line – in the best way that an organization is able.