ILO Warns Global Workforce Risks Being Left Behind Without Major Lifelong Learning Revolution

“Lifelong learning is the bridge between today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities,” said ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is calling on governments worldwide to urgently overhaul education and workforce policies as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, climate transition, and demographic change rapidly reshape the future of work.

In a major new report, Lifelong Learning and Skills for the Future, the ILO warns that unless countries dramatically expand access to lifelong learning and modern skills development systems, global economic transformations could deepen inequality, widen social divides, and leave millions of workers unprepared for emerging labour market demands.

The report, based on worker surveys, institutional data, online job vacancy analysis, and a review of 174 international studies, presents one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of how technological disruption and structural economic shifts are changing the global skills landscape.

"Lifelong learning is the bridge between today's jobs and tomorrow's opportunities," said ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo.

"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."

The report argues that traditional education systems are no longer sufficient in a world where workers must continuously adapt to evolving technologies, changing industries, and shifting social needs.

Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are rapidly transforming workplaces across sectors, while the global transition toward greener economies is restructuring production systems and creating new forms of employment. At the same time, ageing populations are increasing pressure on labour markets and driving growing demand for care workers and healthcare services.

Despite these profound changes, the ILO found that access to structured learning and training remains alarmingly limited.

Globally, only 16 percent of people aged between 15 and 64 reported participating in structured training during the previous year.

Participation rates are significantly higher among full-time permanent employees working in formal companies, with around 51 percent receiving employer-supported training. However, the report says this gap exposes deep inequalities between formal and informal workers, between highly educated and less educated populations, and between workers in large and small enterprises.

Workers with lower levels of formal education or those employed in informal jobs often rely primarily on "learning-by-doing" rather than structured training programmes. By contrast, workers in larger or more formal organisations are more likely to receive mentorship, professional development opportunities, and formal upskilling support.

The ILO warns that without stronger and more inclusive learning systems, technological and economic transformation could exacerbate inequality both within countries and between richer and poorer economies.

One of the report's most significant findings is that future labour markets will increasingly reward workers who possess a broad mix of skills rather than narrow technical expertise alone.

While digital and green skills are becoming increasingly important, employers are also placing high value on cognitive abilities, communication, teamwork, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills.

According to the report's analysis of online job vacancies, socio-emotional skills now account for more than half of employer demands in countries such as Brazil, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, while exceeding 40 percent in Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, and Uruguay.

The findings suggest that as automation handles more routine technical tasks, uniquely human capabilities — including creativity, collaboration, empathy, and critical thinking — are becoming increasingly valuable.

Interestingly, the report notes that AI-specific skills still represent only a relatively small share of total labour market demand.

Rather than requiring advanced specialist knowledge, many workplaces are currently adopting accessible AI tools that rely more heavily on workers having strong foundational digital literacy, analytical thinking, and social capabilities.

The green transition is also emerging as a major driver of changing skill requirements.

The ILO estimates that 32 percent of workers globally already perform environmentally relevant tasks linked to sustainability, renewable energy, or climate-related industries.

However, the organisation cautions that green jobs are not automatically high-quality or secure jobs.

"Without the right mix of skills and policies, these new opportunities may not deliver improved working conditions," the report warns.

Meanwhile, demographic change is creating mounting pressure in care economies around the world.

The report projects that global demand for long-term care workers will surge from 85 million in 2023 to 158 million by 2050.

Despite this rapidly growing demand, many care workers continue to face poor wages, insecure employment, and difficult working conditions, reflecting what the ILO describes as the persistent undervaluation of essential care-related skills.

The organisation says governments must now treat lifelong learning as a core economic and social policy priority rather than a secondary education issue.

Yet funding remains critically inadequate in many parts of the world.

According to the report, 34 percent of high-income countries allocate less than 1 percent of their public education budgets to adult learning and education. Among low-income countries, that figure rises to 63 percent.

The ILO argues that fragmented governance, poor institutional coordination, limited infrastructure, and unequal access continue to undermine workforce development efforts globally.

The report calls for governments, employers, and worker organisations to collaborate on more inclusive and flexible lifelong learning systems capable of adapting to people's changing lives and careers.

It also stresses the importance of stronger public financing, social dialogue, workplace-based learning opportunities, and improved coordination between education systems and labour markets.

Without urgent action, the ILO warns that the combined forces of AI, automation, climate transition, and demographic change could leave large sections of the global workforce increasingly vulnerable to exclusion, job insecurity, and declining economic opportunity.