Economists and labour market experts have called for urgent policy reforms and stronger institutional preparedness to help countries in the Global South adapt to the rapidly evolving world of work shaped by technological advancement, digitalisation and structural economic transformation. The call came during a global webinar titled "Work in Flux: Foresight for the Future of Work in the Global South", organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in collaboration with international partners.
Chairing the webinar, CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya said the labour ecosystem is undergoing profound changes while existing policies and institutions are struggling to keep pace. He observed that conventional forecasting methods based on historical trends and linear projections are becoming increasingly inadequate for anticipating rapid technological and structural shifts in labour markets. Foresight analysis provides a more effective approach to exploring multiple future scenarios and supporting evidence-based, forward-looking policymaking.
Presenting findings from CPD's Bangladesh foresight study, Additional Research Director Towfiqul Islam Khan said the research identified 27 key drivers that are expected to shape the country's future of work through 2035. The study also identified five trends that are expected to remain constant regardless of future scenarios, including irreversible digitalisation, a transition towards higher-value services, persistent skills mismatches, continued exposure to external shocks such as climate change and trade disruptions, and the growing importance of institutional agility in determining who benefits from emerging opportunities.
To address these challenges, the study recommended eight priority policy measures, including reforms in education and skills development, lifelong learning and reskilling, employment-oriented industrial policies, stronger labour market information systems, modernised social protection for gig and platform workers, and targeted support for vulnerable groups during labour market transitions. The webinar featured an international panel that highlighted the need to better align education systems with labour market demand, expand public-private partnerships for workforce development, strengthen social protection frameworks, mitigate the unequal effects of automation and ensure that digital transformation creates inclusive and decent employment opportunities.
The discussion concluded with a consensus that the key challenges surrounding the future of work are already well understood and that governments should now focus on implementing practical policy measures. Participants called for stronger collaboration among governments, employers, researchers and development partners to translate evidence into forward-looking policies that promote inclusive employment, institutional resilience and decent work while ensuring that no one is left behind. The webinar was organised by CPD in collaboration with JustJobs Network, LIRNEasia, Southern Voice and the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, under the FutureWORKS Asia initiative supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). For Bangladesh, the foresight study's findings and policy recommendations hold particular significance as the country navigates its own future of work challenges and opportunities.
