Key Takeaways
- Only 16% of adults participated in structured training last year, revealing a stark access gap.
- Employers increasingly demand “rounded” skill profiles: digital + green competencies paired with socio-emotional and cognitive abilities.
- AI-specific skills remain a small share of job postings; foundational digital literacy and critical thinking are the real differentiators.
- Green and care jobs are growing rapidly but do not automatically guarantee decent working conditions.
- 34% of high-income and 63% of low-income countries allocate less than 1% of education budgets to adult learning.
The global labor market is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Driven by rapid digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), the green transition, and shifting demographics, the skills required to thrive in tomorrow’s economy are evolving faster than ever. Yet, a groundbreaking new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Lifelong Learning and Skills for the Future, reveals a stark reality: without urgent investment in inclusive, lifelong learning systems, these shifts risk deepening economic and social inequalities.
As ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo states, “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.”
This article explores why lifelong learning must move from the periphery to the center of economic policy, how AI and green skills are reshaping employer demands, and what governments, businesses, and workers must do to prepare for the future of work.
The Changing Skills Landscape: Why Traditional Training Falls Short
The world of work is no longer static. AI and automation are redefining how tasks are performed, while the push toward environmentally sustainable economies is transforming entire industries. Simultaneously, aging populations in many regions are increasing care demands and extending working lifespans.
Despite these seismic shifts, participation in structured training remains alarmingly low. Only 16% of adults aged 15–64 reported engaging in formal training in the past year, with minimal variation across countries. The disparity widens significantly when examining employment status: while 51% of full-time, permanent workers in formal enterprises receive employer-sponsored training, informal workers and those with lower educational attainment are largely left behind, relying primarily on “learning-by-doing.”
This access gap underscores a critical flaw in current skills development models: they fail to reflect how people actually acquire competencies throughout their careers.
Beyond Digital and Green Skills: The Demand for “Rounded” Professionals
A common misconception in workforce development is that technical or niche skills alone will future-proof careers. The ILO’s analysis of online job vacancies across multiple income levels proves otherwise. Employers are actively seeking hybrid skill profiles that combine digital literacy and green competencies with foundational cognitive, socio-emotional, and manual abilities.
- In Brazil, Morocco, and the UAE, socio-emotional skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability account for over 50% of all requested competencies.
- In Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, and Uruguay, these skills make up more than 40% of job postings.
- Cognitive and technical skills remain highly valued, but rarely stand alone.
Interestingly, AI-specific technical skills currently represent only a small fraction of overall demand. Why? Because most workers interact with user-friendly, ready-to-use AI tools that prioritize critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital fluency over coding or algorithmic expertise. The future belongs to “rounded” workers who can blend technical know-how with human-centric capabilities.
Green Jobs and the Care Economy: Skills Alone Don’t Guarantee Decent Work
While the green transition is creating new occupational pathways, the ILO cautions that environmentally relevant jobs are not inherently “decent.” Globally, 32% of workers already perform tasks linked to environmental sustainability, but without targeted skills development and robust labor policies, these roles may lack fair wages, safety standards, or career progression.
Similarly, the care economy is projected to surge from 85 million workers in 2023 to 158 million by 2050. Despite its societal necessity, paid care work remains chronically undervalued, underfunded, and poorly compensated. Skills in these sectors are just as critical as in tech or manufacturing, yet they often lack formal recognition and equitable investment. A truly resilient workforce strategy must ensure that green and care jobs deliver not just employment, but dignity, security, and upward mobility.
Making Lifelong Learning a National Policy Priority
To navigate these transformations, the ILO calls for a paradigm shift: lifelong learning must be treated as a central pillar of economic and social policy, not an afterthought. Currently, learning ecosystems are fragmented and severely underfunded.
- Even in high-income nations, 34% allocate less than 1% of public education budgets to adult learning.
- In low-income countries, that figure jumps to 63%.
- High-income nations face coordination challenges and unequal access, while lower-income countries struggle with infrastructure and financing constraints.
A comprehensive lifelong learning framework should integrate workplace training, community-based programs, digital micro-credentials, and formal adult education. It must also prioritize inclusivity, ensuring informal workers, women, older adults, and marginalized groups have equitable access to upskilling pathways.
Actionable Steps for Governments, Employers, and Workers
|
Stakeholder
|
Recommended Actions
|
|---|---|
|
Governments
|
Increase public funding for adult education, streamline policy coordination across education and labor ministries, and incentivize lifelong learning through tax credits and national skills accounts.
|
|
Employers
|
Invest in continuous, workplace-embedded training that blends technical upskilling with socio-emotional development. Partner with educational institutions and recognize non-formal learning.
|
|
Workers & Learners
|
Adopt a growth mindset, leverage free/low-cost digital learning platforms, and actively seek opportunities to build complementary skill sets.
|
|
Educational Institutions
|
Modernize curricula to emphasize adaptability, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving while expanding flexible, modular learning options for adult learners.
|
Why is lifelong learning important for the future of work?
A: Lifelong learning bridges the gap between current job roles and emerging opportunities driven by AI, automation, and the green transition. It ensures workers remain adaptable, employable, and equipped for decent work in rapidly evolving industries.
A: Lifelong learning bridges the gap between current job roles and emerging opportunities driven by AI, automation, and the green transition. It ensures workers remain adaptable, employable, and equipped for decent work in rapidly evolving industries.
What skills are most in demand for AI and green jobs?
A: While digital and environmental competencies are growing in importance, employers prioritize “rounded” skill profiles. These include socio-emotional skills (communication, teamwork), cognitive abilities (critical thinking, problem-solving), and foundational digital literacy, which enable workers to effectively use AI tools and navigate sustainable practices.
A: While digital and environmental competencies are growing in importance, employers prioritize “rounded” skill profiles. These include socio-emotional skills (communication, teamwork), cognitive abilities (critical thinking, problem-solving), and foundational digital literacy, which enable workers to effectively use AI tools and navigate sustainable practices.
How much do governments currently spend on adult education?
A: Investment remains critically low. The ILO reports that 34% of high-income countries and 63% of low-income countries allocate less than 1% of their public education budgets to adult learning and education, highlighting a major systemic funding gap.
A: Investment remains critically low. The ILO reports that 34% of high-income countries and 63% of low-income countries allocate less than 1% of their public education budgets to adult learning and education, highlighting a major systemic funding gap.
Can green jobs automatically provide decent working conditions?
A: No. The ILO warns that environmentally relevant roles do not guarantee fair wages, job security, or safe conditions. Decent work in the green economy requires intentional policy design, proper skills training, and strong labor protections.
A: No. The ILO warns that environmentally relevant roles do not guarantee fair wages, job security, or safe conditions. Decent work in the green economy requires intentional policy design, proper skills training, and strong labor protections.
The future of work will not be shaped by technology alone, but by how well societies prepare their people to adapt, innovate, and thrive alongside it. As the ILO’s latest report makes clear, lifelong learning is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for economic resilience, social equity, and sustainable development. By closing training gaps, rebalancing skills investment, and treating adult education as a public good, governments and employers can build labor markets that are not only productive, but profoundly human. The time to act is now.
