A regional policy forum organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Bangkok on 29–30 January 2026 highlighted the urgent need to transform demographic shifts in Asia and the Pacific into opportunities for decent work. Funded by the European Union, the “Demographic Shifts and the Future of Work” forum brought together government representatives, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and research institutions from countries including India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Thailand to discuss emerging trends, challenges, and policy solutions.
Discussions at the forum focused on extending the working lives of older workers, removing barriers to quality employment for youth, and leveraging well-managed migration to address labour and skills shortages. Participants also emphasized the importance of robust social protection systems and identified knowledge gaps to be addressed through upcoming research and policy briefs, highlighting the critical role of evidence-informed policymaking.
Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, noted that demographic changes are already reshaping labour markets, workplaces, and social protection systems. She stressed that coordinated responses will determine whether these shifts drive productivity, inclusion, and decent work or exacerbate inequality and exclusion. The European Union’s Ambassador to Thailand, Luisa Ragher, highlighted the importance of collaborative solutions, praising the forum as a platform for countries to learn from each other and strengthen their capacity to design policies that leverage demographic change for sustainable growth.
Thailand underscored the domestic importance of addressing demographic transition. Sakdinath Sontisakyothin, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, emphasized that balancing the challenges of an ageing workforce with the creation of quality jobs for youth will shape productivity, social cohesion, and inclusion for decades to come.
The forum also highlighted broader regional trends: Asia and the Pacific are ageing faster than any other region, and population ageing is projected to shrink labour force participation from about 61 per cent in 2023 to 55 per cent by 2050 as the share of people aged 65 and over rises. Many countries are facing labour shortages and growing pressures on productivity, skills development, and social protection, making timely, coordinated policy action essential to ensure inclusive growth and decent work rather than widening inequality.
The forum was part of the four-year Managing a Decent Future of Work Together – Asia and the Pacific project (2025–2029), funded by the European Union and implemented by the ILO. The initiative promotes mutual learning to strengthen labour standards across the region while addressing megatrends such as demographic shifts, technological change, climate transition, and evolving trade patterns.
