Global Labour Market Conference Adopts Six Decisive Actions To Shape Future Work
The ministerial meeting of the third Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh ended with participating ministers adopting six joint actions. Chaired by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, and attended by ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo and 40 labor ministers, the gathering focused on skills, technology, social protection, and employment mobility across borders and sectors.
The agreed actions aim to improve how skills are recognised and transferred, regulate the use of artificial intelligence in labour market systems, and adapt social protection so it can move with workers. Ministers also stressed the need for better workforce planning, stronger data use, and clearer pathways into first jobs and labour market re-entry.
One core commitment is to create stronger methodologies for skills recognition and portability. The ministers want systems that identify workers’ abilities more accurately and support movement between occupations, industries, and countries. This approach links skills development with real labour market needs, helping employers and jobseekers match more effectively in different economic conditions.
| Action Area | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Skills recognition and portability | Improve how skills are assessed and transferred across sectors and borders. |
| Responsible use of AI | Guide transparent, well-governed AI use in labour market decisions. |
| Social protection for mobility | Ensure social protection supports changing careers and worker movement. |
| Data-driven matching | Use labour market data to connect people with jobs and training. |
| Workforce planning | Prepare employment systems for economic shocks and structural change. |
| Pathways to employment | Improve routes to first jobs and labour market re-entry. |
The ministers agreed that artificial intelligence should support labour market systems under clear rules. They underlined the need for transparency, strong governance, and oversight whenever AI tools influence hiring, training, or workforce planning. At the same time, they called for better labour market infrastructure that uses data to connect individuals with suitable opportunities and targeted skills programmes.
Adapting social protection to modern work patterns formed another pillar of the discussions. The meeting highlighted that support mechanisms should follow individuals as careers shift, jobs change, or workers cross sectors and borders. Officials also focused on improving first job access and opportunities for people returning to work, linking these pathways to meaningful and sustainable careers.
Global Labor Market Conference labor market cooperation
This ministerial meeting in Riyadh, now in its third edition, is described as a central element of the Global Labor Market Conference. It serves as an international platform where governments and organisations share evidence, compare experiences, and coordinate policies on the future of work, employment resilience, and labour market inclusion across regions.
The Global Labor Market Conference operates with several international partners, including the International Labor Organization, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization for Migration, UN Tourism, the King’s Trust International, and the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk). These partnerships support continued dialogue on labour market challenges and cooperative policy responses.
With inputs from SPA
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