FutureWORKS Asia research hub: skills for a sustainable and inclusive future of work in Asia

 

Demographic trends, digitalization and artificial intelligence, climate change and the transition to low-carbon economies, and the economic consequences of these challenges will upend the world of work in ways that remain unknown. These drivers may worsen labour market participation and outcomes, disproportionately impacting marginalized women and young people. There are demands from job seekers, private sector employers and governments to harness this period of economic transition towards quality employment outcomes through skills development, technical and vocational education and training, and lifelong learning. In tandem, stronger protection systems are needed to support displaced workers and allow them to retrain in relevant skills.  

The FutureWORKS initiative supports regionally nuanced and high-quality research that addresses key future-of-work challenges and opportunities with a focus on innovative and gender-responsive approaches to advance adaptable skills and promote decent work.  This project supports the establishment of the Asia FutureWORKS hub to explore questions centred on policies and skills development systems that prepare workers in low- and lower-middle income countries for the future of work, with an emphasis on the impact and opportunities for vulnerable groups, women and youth.

The hub will manage a competitive call for innovation research on skilling policies and programs at the secondary, tertiary and vocational education levels; innovation systems that incentivize a move towards just and sustainable jobs; and labour policies. The hub will support research in two phases to allow promising innovations to move from proof of concept to scale, where appropriate. The hub will support training and peer learning activities in Asia and across regional hubs and will be guided by a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral advisory committee to support technical rigour and positioning of results for use.