APEC Ministers Target Jobs, Skills and Worker Protection as AI Reshapes Work
Issued by the 8th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting
“A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, exemplified by artificial intelligence, is making rapid breakthroughs, profoundly reshaping modes of production and employment patterns and exerting a deep impact on the development and utilization of human resources,” said Shen Yiqin, State Councilor of China in her opening remarks at the 8th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Nanjing on Monday.
People aged 65 and older currently make up 15 percent of APEC’s population, with the region’s population set to shrink by 2035. At the same time, the World Economic Forum projects that 92 million jobs globally will be displaced and 170 million jobs created by 2030, driven by demographic shifts and rapid technological transformation.
As production and employment patterns shift, ministers underscored the need to better align employment and broader economic policies, so job creation keeps pace with growth. They also stressed stronger protection for workers, including those in gig, contract and other emerging forms of employment.
“We should strengthen information sharing and trend analysis, jointly reinforce employment monitoring, continuously improve policies that adapt to AI development and promote entrepreneurship,” Shen added.
Ministers highlighted AI’s potential to improve job matching, identify emerging occupations and anticipate skills demand. At the same time, they called for greater investment in reskilling and lifelong vocational training to help workers adapt as jobs change.
Skills cooperation was another focus. Ministers discussed expanding quality apprenticeships in traditional and emerging occupations, aligning training more closely with industry needs and improving recognition of occupational standards and qualifications across economies. Ministers also emphasized widening access to digital skills training, including for persons with disabilities.
In practical terms, that could mean making it easier for workers to identify where jobs are growing, gain the skills employers need and retain protection as they move between roles.
Ministers noted that keeping training aligned with changing industry needs will require closer partnerships among policymakers, businesses and education institutions to expand training opportunities and certification.
Addressing APEC ministers, Gilbert Houngbo, Director General of the International Labour Organization, urged economies to create more decent jobs, particularly for young people and women, build the skills workers need for digital and green transitions and strengthen social protection systems as a foundation for resilient economies.
Aging populations are also putting the finances of social security systems under greater pressure. Ministers called for stronger capacity to forecast the future costs and risks facing pension and social insurance programs, while making benefits easier to access through digital services.
“This is one of the most important ministerial meetings in the Asia-Pacific region. It has played a foundational role in fostering regional economic growth and improving people’s livelihoods,” said Wang Xiaoping, Chair of the ministerial meeting and China’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Security.
“We aim to embrace new trends and address new challenges, thereby advancing human resources development and modernization in the Asia-Pacific and inject new momentum into building an Asia-Pacific community to prosper together,” Wang concluded.
