Recent technological innovations in fields such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence have reduced the number of workers required in a number of sectors, while simultaneously reducing costs and increasing reliability. This trend has led public policy makers, academics, company chairmen and entrepreneurs to ask themselves what kind of jobs will be affected, what new skills will be required for future jobs and how governments can facilitate the transition.

This paper examines how technology can affect labor markets in Africa, developing Asia and emerging Europe, Central Asia, the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean and Latin America and the Caribbean in the next few years. The study identifies specific policies that countries in these four regions could adopt to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities afforded by these new technologies.