Usman Abdullah
Uber Skills
How can we provide skill matching and professional network building opportunities to migrant Uber drivers so that they can monetize their unregulated skills in the job market ?
Majority of Uber drivers in Canada are immigrants. Many of these immigrant drivers are skilled professionals who are trained abroad in unregulated professions and they have hard time finding work opportunities in their area of expertise due to lack of local work experience. Uber Skills opens doors for foreign qualified immigrant drivers to unlock their potential in the community by showcasing their skills.
Insight
There are thousands of foreign qualified skilled immigrants who are driving Uber for their livelihood. Many of these skilled immigrant drivers have unregulated skills, it means they do not need a practicing license to find work in the local job market. But unfortunately, they can’t find work opportunities in their relevant occupations due to lack of local work experience, professional networking, and connections.
Idea
Uber Skills is a digital design solution that provides skills monetization and network building opportunities for migrant Uber drivers. Uber drivers can showcase their original skills through Uber platform to their riders and in the community. Through Uber skills riders can create work opportunities for migrant Uber drivers, which help drivers to gain local work experience. Riders can also help drivers to grow their professional network to make their presence known as skilled professionals in the community as well as on online professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn. Riders can also get benefit from drivers’ unutilized skills to get their job done in a convenient manner.
Impact
Uber skills is a social development initiative that would uplift thousands of migrant uber drivers who want to grow and contribute to economic growth with their original skills and experience. It would also help them to integrate into the socio- economic fabric of the society. Most importantly Uber skills has the potential to alleviate the effects of "Taxi/Uber driver syndrome" in our society by removing barriers that hinder skilled migrant drivers from career and professional growth.
Biography
Usman is an industrial designer who is passionate about design research and creative thinking. His creative process is focused on human-centered design and emerging trends. He is eager to create meaningful products and innovative design solutions.