BRIDGING THE GAP: IHRM STRATEGIES TO COMBAT GLOBAL UNEMPLOYMENT

Abstract

Global unemployment continues to pose a formidable threat to economic resilience and societal progress, especially amid accelerating globalization, technological upheaval, and evolving labour market paradigms. Within this complex landscape, International Human Resource Management (IHRM) serves as a pivotal framework for crafting responsive strategies to address employment disparities across diverse global regions. This systematic review consolidates insights from open-access scholarly sources to examine the strategic role of IHRM in mitigating unemployment. It draws upon cross-regional studies, emphasizing critical approaches such as workforce upskilling and capacity enhancement, cross-cultural leadership, international talent flow, inclusive human resource practices, and digital integration. The review offers a critical assessment of these strategies’ execution and their measurable influence on job creation, employability enhancement, and long-term economic sustainability. Key findings reveal that contextually nuanced, adaptable, and culturally aligned HRM practices are essential for impactful intervention. Moreover, the analysis highlights the significance of synergistic collaboration among multinational enterprises, government bodies, and community stakeholders in developing holistic and sustainable employment solutions. Advocating for a forward-looking orientation, the study underscores the need for innovative policy frameworks that champion lifelong learning, entrepreneurial development, and inclusive workforce participation. It concludes by proposing an integrative model for embedding IHRM strategies into both national agendas and corporate policies to bridge employment divides and cultivate resilient, future-ready human capital. This review offers vital implications for policymakers, HR professionals, and scholars dedicated to combating global unemployment through strategic, internationally informed HR initiatives.