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The Future of Work for Asian Youth is a joint research project featuring policy reports and conferences produced by German-based think tank Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Japan’s Social and Economic Governance in Asia (SOPAS) and the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF). This initiative highlights the rapidly evolving dynamics of youth employment across Asia, addressing systemic challenges and exploring opportunities for progress. Having started in 2020, the project has continued to track employment trends across Asia as the world moved from pre-pandemic to recovery, then post-pandemic and the rise of artificial intelligence.
2020-2021: Country Profiles on Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia
Between 2020 and 2021, the Future of Work for Asian Youth initiative released four country-specific reports focusing on Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Each report offers a comprehensive analysis of the youth labor market, structured into four main sections. The first section provides an overview of the country’s labor landscape, with a particular focus on the demographics of its general and youth labor force. The second section explores emerging trends shaping the future of work, highlighting the transformative factors influencing youth employment. The third section delves into the challenges young people face in navigating the labor market, from skill gaps to systemic barriers. Finally, each report concludes with actionable policy recommendations and strategies designed to help youth adapt to and succeed in the evolving world of work.
Complementing these reports, the Future of Work for the Asian Youth webinar series, co-organized by KAS-SOPAS and TAEF, was held between 2020 and 2021. This series featured four sessions, each focusing on one of the aforementioned countries. The discussions delved into the rapidly changing nature of youth employment, highlighting challenges and opportunities while assessing each country’s preparedness for the future of work. Together, the reports and webinars provided a multi-faceted understanding of the evolving dynamics in the youth labor market across Asia.
2022: A Better (Re)Start: The Future of Work for Young People Conference
Youth are particularly vulnerable to the disruptive changes reshaping the global economy, education systems, and labor markets. Pre-pandemic trends such as automation, digitalization, and globalization had already transformed the way people live and work. The COVID-19 pandemic further deepened these disruptions, disproportionately affecting young people.
In response, TAEF and KAS-SOPAS) co-hosted the conference A Better (Re)Start: The Future of Work for Young People on November 7, 2022. The event addressed the systemic changes brought about by globalization and the pandemic, focusing on youth education and labor trends in Asia. Key discussions highlighted pathways for recovery, progress, and innovative strategies to navigate these challenges.
For Event Report see: https://www.kas.de/documents/2...
2023 Responding to the Dynamic Changes in the World of Work in Asia
In 2023, the Future of Work initiative expanded its reach with a hybrid conference held on July 28 during the South East Asia-South Asia-Taiwan (SEASAT) Camp, an annual flagship event organized by TAEF. The conference gathered youth leaders, think tanks, academics, and policymakers to address pressing challenges in the evolving world of work.
Under the theme Responding to the Dynamic Changes in the World of Work in Asia, the event gathered diverse perspectives to tackle pressing issues. The discussions centered on three primary objectives: Examining the challenges young people face in employment and education, Sharing best practices in skills development and early career management to prepare for “future-proof” jobs, Outlining effective policy recommendations to address these challenges.
2024 Asia’s Future Workforce: Shaping Responsive Education and Employment Policies for Youth and Beyond
In 2024, the Future of Work initiative will culminate with the publication of a comprehensive report, Asia’s Future Workforce: Shaping Responsive Education and Employment Policies for Youth and Beyond. Jointly produced by TAEF and KAS, this report aims to provide actionable strategies for policymakers, educators, and business leaders to nurture future talent.
The report will be divided into three major sections, featuring case studies from Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. It will analyze employment trends in Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Nepal, South Korea, and ASEAN, identifying successful practices and offering practical policy recommendations. Key themes include: Emerging labor market trends across Asia, Innovative education policies tailored to the future of work and Strategies to address regional and global workforce challenges.
