Future Of Work Forum Analyses Economic Shifts And AI Opportunities In Labour Market

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in collaboration with the World Governments Summit Organisation, hosted the second Future of Work Forum. This event was part of the World Governments Summit 2025 and gathered ministers, policymakers, economic experts, and business leaders from various countries to discuss future work environments driven by innovation and sustainability.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, highlighted the forum's role in analysing global labour market shifts amid economic changes. "The forum enables participants to exchange experiences, address challenges, and explore promising opportunities to meet the future needs of labour market," he stated.

HE Al Awar noted that the UAE's business environment is thriving, with private sector growth at 17% by 2024's end. The workforce expanded by 12%, while skilled labour increased by 13%. These advancements were supported by modernised labour regulations and initiatives like new visa programmes attracting global talent.

The UAE has also enhanced social protection through schemes such as Unemployment Insurance, Savings Scheme, expanded health insurance for all workers, and extending the Wage Protection System to domestic workers. These efforts aim to improve life quality for the diverse workforce in the country.

Dr. Al Awar emphasised higher education institutions' role in bridging skills gaps to align educational output with market needs. Over five years, accredited vocational institutes rose by 280%, from 16 in 2019 to 61 in 2024. This reflects ongoing efforts to develop academic programmes meeting labour demands.

The Ministry aims to foster partnerships with over 50 entities by 2025 to expand graduate employment opportunities. The UAE improved its global ranking from 12th in 2019 to seventh in 2023 on INSEAD's Global Talent Competitiveness Index metric linking education systems with market needs.

Forum Sessions Overview

The Future of Work Forum featured six sessions led by decision-makers, researchers, and experts on labour dynamics. The first session focused on 'Minimum Wage Legislations', sharing experiences from countries like UAE, Qatar, Singapore, and Germany regarding their economic impact.

The second session examined 'Economic Impacts and Future Wages', analysing wage policies' effects on competitiveness and inflation-wage interactions. The third session explored AI's role in shaping innovative government frameworks amid technological expansion.

AI's Impact on Labour Markets

The fourth session discussed AI reshaping labour markets with a shift towards freelancing over traditional jobs. It highlighted balancing economic flexibility with social protection as governments regulate emerging sectors.

The fifth session addressed 'University Partnerships' enhancing education outcomes through collaboration between higher education institutions and private sectors. It stressed swift intervention from educational institutions in emerging sectors to meet market demands.

The final session focused on labour market flexibility dialogues at the Future of Work Forum.

With inputs from WAM