The International Labour Organization (ILO) has issued a new report urging governments around the world to make lifelong learning a key component of economic and social policy, cautioning that inaction could exacerbate inequality in the face of swift global change.
According to the research “Lifelong Learning and Skills for the Future,” labor markets are changing due to digitization, artificial intelligence (AI), the green transition, and demographic changes, which present both opportunities and risks.
Drawing on worker surveys, online job vacancy analysis, institutional data, and a review of 174 studies, the report finds that without stronger and more inclusive lifelong learning systems, disparities between and within countries are likely to widen.
“Lifelong learning is the bridge between today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities. It is not only about employability and productivity, but also about supporting decent work, driving true innovation and building resilient societies,” said ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo.
According to the report, only 16% of individuals between the ages of 15 and 64 had taken part in organized training in the year before to the poll, with little variation among nations.
Nonetheless, among formal workers, engagement increases dramatically; 51% of full-time employees receive training from their employers.
This gap underscores inequalities in access to learning, particularly between formal and informal workers and across education levels. Workers in informal employment or smaller enterprises often rely on “learning by doing,” while those in formal sectors benefit more from structured training and mentorship.
According to Max Tuñón, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, the results show trends that are evident in Bangladesh, such as an increase in employer demand for a combination of hard and soft skills.
In order to make sure that training programs meet the needs of the labor market, he emphasized the necessity of addressing institutional fragmentation and bolstering cooperation with the corporate sector.
The report highlights the inadequacy of concentrating only on technical abilities. A combination of digital, cognitive, socioemotional, and manual skills is becoming more and more sought after by employers.
In addition to digital competencies, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills are highly sought after, according to an analysis of online job openings. Socio-emotional skills make up a sizable portion of employer demand in a number of nations.
While AI-related skills currently represent a small portion of total demand, the report notes that many workers use accessible AI tools that require strong foundational skills rather than advanced technical expertise.
Globally, about 32 per cent of workers are engaged in environmentally relevant tasks. However, the report cautions that green jobs do not automatically guarantee decent working conditions without appropriate policies and skill development.
The report also highlights the growing need for care workers, with global demand projected to increase from 85 million in 2023 to 158 million by 2050. Despite this, many care workers continue to face poor working conditions, indicating that essential skills in this sector remain undervalued.
The ILO calls for a broader, more inclusive approach to lifelong learning that extends beyond formal education to workplaces and society at large.
It notes that learning systems in many countries remain fragmented and underfunded. Even in high-income countries, 34 per cent allocate less than 1 per cent of public education budgets to adult learning, while in low-income countries the figure rises to 63 per cent.
The report urges governments, employers, and workers’ organizations to work together to expand access to learning, strengthen training systems, and improve governance, financing, and coordination.
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