Future of work

OECD report highlights AI’s growing role in workforce training

AI is beginning to reshape how vocational education and training (VET) systems design qualifications, update curricula and respond to rapidly changing labour market demands, according to a new OECD report.

As economies undergo digital and green transitions, education authorities face growing pressure to ensure training programmes remain aligned with evolving workforce needs.

The report finds that AI is already being used across parts of the vocational education ecosystem to analyse labour market trends, identify emerging skills gaps, map competencies and support curriculum development.

Countries, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia and Germany, have launched pilot initiatives using AI tools to accelerate and improve qualification design and revision processes.

AI is also being explored as a mechanism for supporting modular learning pathways and micro-credentials in sectors experiencing rapid technological change.

Despite growing interest, the OECD stresses that AI adoption remains uneven and largely experimental. Most systems continue to rely on traditional governance structures involving employers, industry representatives, educators and public authorities.

Rather than replacing existing governance processes, AI is currently being used to support evidence gathering, stakeholder consultations and administrative functions. The organisation notes that countries with strong digital infrastructures and advanced labour market intelligence systems are better positioned to move from isolated pilots to broader implementation.

The report also warns that broader AI adoption could introduce new risks for vocational education systems. Concerns include biased outputs, poor data quality, reduced transparency, cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the possibility of weakening collaborative decision-making.

To address these challenges, the OECD argues that AI deployment must remain human-centred and operate within robust governance frameworks. Maintaining accountability, ensuring stakeholder participation and protecting data integrity will be critical as governments increasingly integrate AI into education and workforce development policies.

Why does it matter?

Vocational education systems play a critical role in preparing workers for changing labour markets. As digitalisation, automation and the green transition reshape skills demand, governments are looking for ways to update qualifications and training programmes more quickly. The OECD report suggests that AI could help education systems identify emerging workforce needs, improve labour market intelligence and make curriculum development more responsive.

At the same time, the report highlights that technological innovation alone is unlikely to solve skills challenges. The effectiveness of AI in vocational education will depend on strong governance, reliable data, stakeholder participation and human oversight. How governments balance efficiency gains with transparency, accountability and trust could shape the future of workforce development and lifelong learning policies.

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AI is reshaping employment patterns across the US labour market

AI is increasingly influencing the structure of the US labour market, although its impact on overall employment growth remains limited so far. Evidence suggests that the impact is concentrated in specific occupational groups rather than evenly distributed across the economy.

Employment in occupations considered highly exposed to AI-driven substitution has declined in recent years, while occupations viewed as less vulnerable to automation have continued to expand. Since 2019, lower-exposure occupations such as electricians and teachers have recorded strong employment gains, while more AI-exposed occupations have experienced contraction.

The divergence between highly exposed and less exposed occupations has widened further since the emergence of generative AI tools in late 2022. Analysis indicates a growing divergence in employment trends, with job reallocation increasingly linked to technological exposure and automation potential.

Despite these shifts in employment patterns, wage growth has so far shown little evidence of significant variation based on AI exposure. Economists note that the full impact of AI on earnings and inequality may become more visible as adoption deepens and labour markets adjust over time.

Why does it matter?

The findings suggest that AI’s impact on the labour market may be emerging through occupational reallocation rather than widespread job losses. Instead of reducing total employment, AI appears to be changing demand for specific types of work, with occupations that rely heavily on routine cognitive tasks facing greater pressure than jobs requiring physical, interpersonal or complex problem-solving skills.

The trend has important implications for workforce development and economic policy. If AI continues to reshape demand across occupations, governments, employers and educational institutions may need to adapt training programmes, reskilling initiatives and career pathways to help workers transition into roles that complement rather than compete with increasingly capable AI systems. The longer-term effects on wages, productivity and inequality remain uncertain and will depend on how rapidly AI adoption spreads throughout the economy.

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OECD publishes AI literacy framework for schools

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a new report, ‘Empowering Learners for the Age of AI‘, outlining an AI literacy framework for primary and secondary education.

According to the OECD, AI is becoming increasingly embedded in everyday digital life and is influencing civic, professional and social outcomes. The organisation argues that education systems must equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to understand, evaluate and use AI responsibly.

The report defines AI literacy as a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable learners to understand how AI systems function, critically evaluate their outputs and use them ethically, responsibly and creatively.

The OECD said the framework outlines learning outcomes for primary and secondary students and is intended to support policymakers, educators, schools and families in fostering AI literacy both inside and outside the classroom. The report was published on 18 June 2026.

Why does it matter?

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into education, work, public services and everyday life, AI literacy is emerging as a foundational skill alongside traditional digital literacy. Understanding how AI systems operate, where their limitations lie and how their outputs should be evaluated will be important for informed participation in society and the economy.

The OECD framework also reflects a broader policy shift from focusing solely on access to technology toward developing the skills needed to use AI responsibly and critically. By providing a common reference point for educators and policymakers, the framework could help shape future curricula, teacher training programmes and national education strategies aimed at preparing students for an AI-enabled world.

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New task automation tools arrive in ChatGPT

ChatGPT has expanded its Scheduled Tasks functionality with a dedicated management page and improved task creation and editing workflows. Users can now create both one-time and recurring tasks, including requests for notifications when relevant updates or changes occur.

Tasks can be created directly through conversation or via the sidebar’s Scheduled page, offering greater flexibility in how automated reminders are set. Notifications can be delivered through push alerts and email across supported web and mobile platforms, subject to user permissions and device settings.

Some limitations remain, including restricted access to project-stored files and certain workspace environments.

Users can view, edit, pause or delete scheduled tasks either through settings or directly within conversations. The number of active tasks available depends on subscription tier, ranging from three on entry-level plans to fifteen on higher-tier subscriptions.

Feature constraints also apply, with voice chats and GPT-based workflows not supported in task creation, while availability extends across supported models and platforms globally.

Why does it matter?

The expansion of scheduled tasks accelerates the integration of AI chatbots into everyday digital infrastructure, shifting them from on-demand assistants to continuous workflow tools embedded in personal and professional routines.

It also reinforces the broader trend of automation in knowledge work, where AI systems increasingly handle monitoring, reminders, and information tracking at scale, reshaping expectations around productivity and real-time decision support.

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UNESCO-backed initiative promotes AI skills and workforce innovation in East Africa

Nearly 1,000 students from across East Africa participated in the AI4EAC Innovation Challenge, a regional initiative designed to strengthen AI skills while encouraging practical solutions to local challenges.

Supported by UNESCO Campus Africa and several regional and international partners, the programme brought together students from 57 universities across East Africa.

One of the programme’s central themes was employment and workforce development through the Skills2Job Challenge. Participants were tasked with developing AI systems capable of identifying suitable occupations based on an individual’s skills profile.

Using data from UNESCO’s Global Skills Tracker, students developed machine-learning models aimed at improving career guidance, workforce mobility and skills-based hiring.

The winning projects explored different approaches to matching skills with labour market opportunities. Several participants argued that labour markets across Africa continue to place significant emphasis on formal qualifications, often overlooking transferable skills that could support employment across multiple sectors and industries.

UNESCO said the initiative demonstrates growing demand for AI skills across the region while highlighting the ability of young innovators to develop solutions tailored to local economic and social challenges.

The programme forms part of wider efforts to strengthen links between higher education, innovation ecosystems and employment opportunities throughout Africa.

Why does it matter?

The initiative highlights how AI can be applied to address practical development challenges, including the gap between education outcomes and labour market needs. By focusing on skills-based matching rather than formal qualifications alone, AI tools could help improve workforce mobility, career guidance and access to employment opportunities.

The programme also reflects the growing importance of AI capacity development across Africa. As governments, universities and businesses invest in digital transformation, building local AI talent and innovation ecosystems will be essential for ensuring that AI solutions are developed in ways that reflect regional priorities, economic realities and social needs.

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UK expands AI-powered planning tools across England

The UK Government has announced major progress in its efforts to modernise the planning system through AI, including the nationwide rollout of the Extract tool and continued development of the Augmented Planning Decisions (APD) prototype.

Extract, developed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the government’s Incubator for AI (i.AI), is now available to local authorities across England following successful trials. The tool automates the processing of complex planning documents and could save the average council around 255 hours of manual work.

Alongside the rollout, the government is advancing the APD prototype, which is being tested with the London Borough of Barnet, Dorset Council, and the London Borough of Camden. Designed to help planning officers navigate complex local planning policies, the AI-powered system is expected to become available to councils across England from 2027.

The pilot remains experimental, with further testing and evaluation planned before any wider deployment.

Google Cloud, Google DeepMind, and Faculty are supporting the project by providing infrastructure, AI capabilities and technical expertise. Officials said the initiative aims to reduce administrative burdens, improve decision-making efficiency, increase transparency and accelerate planning approvals to support housing development.

Why does it matter? 

The UK’s adoption of AI-powered planning tools reflects a broader trend of governments using AI to modernise public services, improve administrative efficiency, and address longstanding bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Successful deployment could serve as a model for other countries seeking to digitise planning and regulatory processes, demonstrating how AI can support faster decision-making while reducing operational costs and helping public authorities manage growing workloads.

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UK deepens AI adoption in healthcare with new NHS funding

According to UKAuthority, the UK government is investing nearly £30 million to expand the use of AI-powered diagnostic technologies across England’s National Health Service (NHS). The funding aims to accelerate diagnoses and improve patient care for millions of people.

Under the programme, £20 million will be allocated to deploy AI-powered chest X-ray tools across every NHS trust in England by 2029. The technology is already used by around half of NHS trusts and has supported more than four million patients through faster lung cancer diagnosis or clearance.

A further £8.1 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will support trials of six AI and digital technologies across 13 NHS sites. The technologies will assess scans and cardiac tests, prioritise urgent cases and provide digital therapies for a range of health conditions.

The investment forms part of the AI Diagnostic Fund under the Prime Minister’s AI Exemplars programme. Healthcare organisations and charities welcomed the initiative while noting that successful implementation will also depend on workforce capacity, digital infrastruture and operational readiness across the NHS.

Why does it matter?

The investment reflects the growing role of AI in healthcare, particularly in diagnostic imaging and clinical decision support. By helping clinicians identify urgent cases more quickly and process growing volumes of medical data, AI tools have the potential to improve efficiency and reduce delays in patient care.

The initiative also highlights a broader challenge facing health systems: scaling AI successfully requires more than access to technology. Workforce skills, digital infrastructure, clinical integration and governance frameworks will play a key role in determining whether AI delivers measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes.

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Vietnam targets digital economy at 30% of GDP by 2030

Vietnam has approved a national programme to develop its digital economy and digital society from 2026 to 2030, setting a target for the digital economy’s value-added contribution to reach around 30% of GDP by the end of the decade.

The programme aims to accelerate digital transformation across public services, businesses and society through digital platforms, data infrastructure, AI and wider adoption of digital services.

Economic targets include supporting at least 500,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting digital technologies, developing at least five data exchanges, and building at least five Vietnamese digital technology companies able to compete with firms in advanced economies.

The plan also sets infrastructure and access goals. Vietnam aims to provide fibre-optic broadband to all households, extend 5G coverage to 99% of the population, and ensure that all citizens aged 14 and above have digital identification and authentication tools.

Human capital development is also central to the strategy. The government aims to provide basic digital skills training to more than 10 million working-age people by 2030, including skills for using online public services, digital payments, online safety and AI.

The programme forms part of Vietnam’s broader national digital transformation strategy, alongside digital government initiatives and efforts to strengthen competitiveness, productivity and innovation capacity.

Why does it matter?

Vietnam’s programme shows how emerging economies are treating digital infrastructure, AI, data platforms and digital skills as core economic policy, not only technology policy. The targets are ambitious and cover both market development and social access, from SMEs and data exchanges to broadband, 5G, digital ID and digital literacy. The practical impact will depend on implementation, investment and whether businesses and citizens can adopt digital tools at scale.

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Armenian finance minister highlights AI’s economic potential and risks

Armenia’s Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan said AI could support economic growth while also creating new economic and labour-market challenges. He made the comments during a parliamentary discussion on the performance of the 2025 state budget.

Hovhannisyan said the impact of AI is being widely debated internationally and that governments around the world are actively exploring its economic implications. He was responding to questions about AI’s potential effect on GDP growth and the expansion of the tax base.

The minister cited international estimates suggesting that AI adoption could add approximately 0.8 to 1 percentage point to economic growth. He said AI has the potential to generate new forms of employment while supporting productivity and economic growth.

At the same time, Hovhannisyan warned that AI could disrupt existing jobs and create adjustment challenges for labour markets. The remarks were made during discussions on Armenia‘s 2025 budget performance, as the government’s 2026 budget projects economic growth of 5,4%.

Why does it matter?

The comments reflect a broader global debate about AI’s economic impact. Policymakers increasingly view AI as a potential driver of productivity, innovation and economic growth, while also recognising the possibility of labour-market disruption and changing workforce demands.

For emerging economies such as Armenia, the challenge is not only adopting AI technologies but also ensuring that workers and businesses can benefit from them. The long-term impact of AI on growth, employment and public finances will depend on investment, skills development and the ability to adapt to technological change.

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ILO adopts Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention 2026 for digital workers 

The International Labour Organization has adopted the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention 2026, creating the first global labour standard specifically focused on work performed through digital labour platforms.

The International Labour Conference adopted the Convention at its 114th session in Geneva. It addresses working conditions in the platform economy, including ride-hailing, delivery, online freelancing, data work and other forms of digitally mediated labour.

The new standard covers several long-standing concerns in platform work, including worker classification, fair remuneration, occupational safety and health, social protection, algorithmic management, data protection and protection against unfair account suspension or deactivation.

The Convention requires governments to take measures to ensure that platform workers are correctly classified according to the way their work is performed, rather than relying solely on contractual labels. It also includes protections linked to automated systems used to monitor, evaluate or make decisions about workers.

Workers should be informed about automated systems affecting their work and have access to explanations and human review of significant automated decisions, including those related to non-payment, suspension, or deactivation.

Labour organisations welcomed the adoption as a milestone for platform workers’ rights, while attention now turns to ratification and national implementation. The Convention will only translate into enforceable protections where governments incorporate its standards into domestic law and practice.

Why does it matter?

The Convention is a major development in global digital labour governance. Platform work has often grown faster than labour law, leaving workers exposed to income instability, opaque algorithmic management, sudden account deactivation and uncertain employment status. By setting an international baseline, the ILO standard gives governments, unions and regulators a reference point for bringing digital platform work within decent work protections. Its impact, however, will depend on ratification, enforcement and how countries translate the standard into national law.

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