Rapid ageing reshapes jobs, growth and inclusion in Asia and the Pacific

Bangkok (ILO NEWS) - A regional policy forum has highlighted the need for action to turn demographic shifts in Asia and the Pacific into an opportunity for decent work.

On 29-30 January, the International Labour Organization (ILO) organized a regional forum entitled "Demographic Shifts and the Future of Work", funded by the European Union in Bangkok. It brought together representatives of governments, employers' and workers' organizations as well as research institutions from India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand to explore the latest trends, challenges and opportunities to close knowledge gaps and drive policy action.

Participants examined policy measures aimed at strengthening labour market inclusion and resilience. Discussions focused on extending working lives of older workers, addressing barriers to quality youth employment, and leveraging well-managed migration to address labour and skills shortages. The forum underscored the critical role of social protection systems and identified key knowledge gaps that will be addressed through a series of research and policy briefs.

"Demographic change is already reshaping labour markets, workplaces and social protection systems across Asia and the Pacific," said Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. "How we respond will determine whether we transform these demographic shifts into a driver of productivity, inclusion and decent work, or a source of inequality, informality and exclusion."

"Addressing demographic change requires collective solutions," said Luisa Ragher, Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand. "The European Union is proud to support collaborative spaces like this forum, where countries can learn from one another and strengthen their capacity to design policies that turn demographic change into opportunities for decent work, productivity and sustainable growth."

During the event, Thailand emphasized the importance of addressing its own demographic transition. "Thailand, like many countries in the region, faces the dual challenge of an ageing workforce and the need to create quality jobs for young people," said Sakdinath Sontisakyothin, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Thailand. "How we respond will shape productivity, inclusion and social cohesion for decades to come."

With populations in Asia and the Pacific ageing faster than any other region in the world, timely and coordinated policy action is essential to ensure these shifts support inclusive growth and decent work rather than widening inequality. According to the Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2024, population ageing is set to significantly shrink the region's labour supply, with labour force participation projected to fall from around 61 per cent in 2023 to 55 per cent by 2050 as the share of people aged 65 and over rises. In many countries, ageing is unfolding faster than economic and institutional systems can adapt, intensifying labour shortages and increasing pressure on productivity, skills development and social protection, underscoring the urgency of coordinated regional action.

The forum took place as part of the Managing a Decent Future of Work Together - Asia and the Pacific ("Future of Work: APAC") project funded by the European Union, European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments and implemented by the ILO. The four-year initiative (2025-2029) promotes mutual learning toward higher labour standards in the face of megatrends such as technological change, demographic shifts, climate transition, and evolving trade patterns.