The Future of Work: Regional Perspectives (Summary)

Recent technological innovation in fields such as robotics, automation, and machine learning have reduced the number of workers required in a range of sectors, while lowering costs and increasing reliability. This trend has led policymakers, academics, CEOs, and entrepreneurs to ask what types of jobs will be most affected, what new skillsets will be needed for the jobs of tomorrow, and how governments can ease the transition. “The Future of Work: Regional Perspectives” considers how technology is likely to change labor markets in Africa, Developing Asia, Emerging Europe, Central Asia, and Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, and Latin American and the Caribbean in the coming years. This summary describes concrete policy actions countries in these four regions could take to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities presented by emergent technology.