This event brought together diverse voices from across a multitude of sectors to spark bold ideas and real solutions for workers. In this video playlist participants discuss how the future of work requires more than simply upskilling populations, acknowledging the growing mismatch between workers’ existing skills and available jobs, and why closing this gap is essential to building inclusive and productive labour markets. Participants explore the critical importance of foundational skills as the building blocks that enable workers to adapt and learn alongside the push to equip populations for new technologies such as AI. The need to bring untapped groups into the workforce is examined, with participants highlighting how their inclusion is vital not only for individual economic autonomy but for creating a cohesive and fair labour market. All participants emphasise that governments and partners must work together to align policies with the needs of businesses and economies, and that the shifting of funding away from employment and skilling measures undermines progress towards inclusive societies.
Konstantinos Karagkounis (Deputy Minster of Labour and Social Insurance, Hellenic Parliament), Bettina Schaller (President, World Employment Confederation), and Eliana Carranza (Global Lead for Labor and Skills, The World Bank) discuss the key points. Minister Kate Dearden and Minister Kanishka Narayan delivered opening remarks.