Skills and Workforce Development © 2026 The World Bank Group,

Skills and Workforce Development When done right, skills development can reduce un- and underemployment, increase productivity, and improve standards of living. Investing in upskilling or reskilling people for jobs of the future makes economic sense. https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/education/skills-and-workforce-development Skills development is increasingly central to education and labor market transformations driven by global megatrends such as automation, climate action, digitalization, and demographic shifts. These forces are reshaping the nature of work, requiring education and workforce systems to become more personalized, accessible, and continuous, with an emphasis on remote and hybrid learning and lifelong upskilling. Workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) must adapt, as freelancing and informal or self-employment become more prevalent. © 2026 The World Bank Group,