Issue AI-driven labour market upheaval and deepening polarisation

Summary

The fourth global issue is an AI-driven upheaval in labour markets combined with sharper polarisation. The spread of AI agents is expected to make large-scale substitution of white-collar knowledge work a reality, while productivity and income gains concentrate in the small group that uses AI. Countries are expected to broaden debates on mandatory AI literacy education, taxes on AI use such as a robot tax, and universal basic income. To prepare for structural unemployment, the report calls for stronger training and job-transition programmes in new technology fields. It also proposes nationwide AI and digital skills education, a redesigned social safety net and policies that guarantee digital access for excluded groups.