A new ILO report warns that without stronger, more inclusive lifelong learning systems, the digital,
green and demographic transformations risk deepening inequality
GENEVA (ILO News) — As digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI), the green transition, and
demographic shifts reshape labour markets worldwide, a new ILO report calls on governments
to raise lifelong learning to a central pillar of economic and social policy.
Drawing on new worker surveys, online vacancy analysis, institutional data and a review of 174
studies on what works in training, the report Lifelong learning and skills for the future warns that
without stronger investment in inclusive learning systems, these transformations risk widening
inequalities between and within countries.
“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, making it a central element of any successful strategy for sustainable
growth and development,” said ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo.
A changing skills landscape across countries risks widening inequalities
As the world of work undergoes profound change, this has significant implications for skills
requirements. Digital technologies, including AI, are changing how work is done, while the shift
to environmentally sustainable economies is reshaping production systems and jobs. At the
same time, population ageing in many regions is placing greater demands on older workforces
and increasing care needs.
Only 16 per cent of people aged 15 to 64 reported that they took part in structured training in
the year prior to being interviewed, with little difference across countries. Among full-time,
permanent workers in formal firms, participation is higher, with 51 per cent receiving training
from their employer. This gap shows clear inequalities in access to learning, especially between
formal and informal workers and across education levels.
The report shows that workers with less formal education, in informal jobs and/or smaller
enterprises predominantly “learn-by-doing”, while others are more likely to learn from
experienced colleagues and access structured training. This highlights the need for learning
systems that better reflect how people gain skills throughout their working lives.
“The report’s findings reveal several global trends that are also observed in Bangladesh, including the
employers’ demand for workers with a combination of technical and ‘soft’ skills. For that, we need to
address the institutional fragmentation and work more closely with the private sector, to deliver
quality training that meets the needs of a rapidly changing labour market,” said ILO Country
Director for Bangladesh, Max Tuñón.
Beyond digital and green skills
A key finding of the report is that focusing narrowly on technical skills is not sufficient.
Across countries at different income levels, employers increasingly seek combinations of skills.
Digital and green competencies are important, but they are often required alongside
foundational cognitive, socio-emotional and manual skills. Workers with these “rounded” skill
profiles are more likely to access jobs with higher wages and improved working conditions.
Original ILO analysis of online vacancy data shows strong demand for a mix of digital,
communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Socio-emotional skills alone account for
more than half of those requested in countries like Brazil, Morocco, and the United Arab
Emirates, for example, and over 40 per cent in Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, and Uruguay.
Cognitive and technical skills are also widely in demand.
For now, AI-specific skills only make up a small share of overall skills demand. This demand is
expected to grow but it also reflects the fact that many workers use ready-to-use AI tools that
don’t require specialist knowledge. Instead, they rely on strong foundational skills like digital
literacy, critical thinking, and social abilities.
The ILO estimates that globally, 32 per cent of workers perform environmentally relevant tasks.
The report cautions that jobs linked to the green transition are not automatically decent jobs.
Without the right mix of skills and policies, these new opportunities may not deliver improved
working conditions.
The report also highlights growing care needs, with the global need for long-term care workers
expected to grow from 85 million in 2023 to 158 million by 2050. Yet many paid care workers
still face poor working conditions, highlighting that skills are often undervalued and underpaid
in sectors that provide crucial services for societies.
Lifelong learning as a policy priority
The report calls for a comprehensive approach to lifelong learning, one that extends beyond
formal education to encompass learning and training opportunities in workplaces and across
society as a whole.
Lifelong learning is about more than employability and productivity. It underpins decent work,
genuine innovation, active citizenship, and social inclusion, making it a cornerstone of any
effective strategy for sustainable growth and development.
Yet in many countries, learning systems remain fragmented and chronically underfunded. Even
in high-income countries, 34 per cent allocate less than 1 per cent of their public education
budgets to adult learning and education. In low-income countries, that figure climbs to 63 per
cent.
High-income countries generally benefit from more developed institutional frameworks, but
significant challenges persist, including poor coordination between institutions and unequal
access to learning opportunities. In lower-income countries, structural barriers such as limited
financing and inadequate infrastructure further constrain the reach and effectiveness of
learning systems.
Governments, employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations all have a role to play. The
report calls for broader and more equal access to learning, stronger training systems, and
lifelong learning policies that better fit people’s lives. It also highlights the need for strong
governance, coordination, financing and social dialogue. Without decisive action, the report
warns, the transformations shaping the future of work risk leaving large segments of the global
workforce behind.
