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The APEC Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG) meeting was held on May 9–10 and May 12, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. (ANTARA/HO-APEC Secretariat) - 

Education and human resource development officials and experts from 21 APEC member economies are striving to boost digital and environment-related training and education in the region to equip people, especially youth, for future jobs.

Employment in the services sector and industry, including manufacturing and construction as well as agriculture, is estimated to have declined by 1.5 percent, 5.7 percent, and 2.6 percent, respectively, in 2020, as per a release issued by the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group and received here on Saturday.

According to the APEC working group, job losses due to COVID-19 hit the younger generation especially hard, with an 8.7-percent fall in youth employment in 2020.

"Success for APEC is not only about trade and investment; a success for APEC should include improved and strong human resources development, including education, capacity building, and labor, and social protection,” lead shepherd of the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group, Dong Sun Park, said.

The group has identified trends that have shaped the future of work since 2020 and shifted its policy direction this year toward shaping smart citizens with digitalization and eco-friendly awareness.

Such a shift aligns with APEC’s Putrajaya Vision in which new economic drivers have been set for the next 20 years.

"Technology and the environment will be key economic drivers in the post-pandemic world. We need to ensure our people, especially the young generation, are fully equipped with the skills and competencies of the future," Park added.

During the four-day meeting in Bangkok, the Human Resources Working Group laid out strategies and policy actions to enhance the education agenda of APEC.

The actions include cross-border education and academic mobility, qualifications frameworks, skills recognition and technical and vocational education and training, education innovation, as well as 21st-century competencies and structural education reform, among others.

Fostering strong, flexible, inclusive, and resilient labor markets is also important for assuring jobs, especially in a rapidly changing work environment.

Policies covering labor mobility as well as expanding social protection and safety nets will become even more crucial for future jobs. Those policies would extend to women, youth, and people with disabilities.

The meeting also heard from a youth representative from Chulalongkorn University who recommended that APEC further advance school curricula, engage scientists and experts in designing the curricula, mandate youth advisory committees for policy-making, as well as boost practical measures on sustainability.

"Human resource development has become an increasingly important element of APEC to promote the well-being of our people and achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the region," co-chair of the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group, Duriya Amatavivat, said.

Amatavivat, who is also a senior advisor to the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Education, reiterated Thailand’s commitment to promoting skills development for empowerment and employability, as well as to facilitating a smooth transition to a digital, green economy, and sustainable societies.

"This can help us in advancing global efforts to address all environmental challenges, including climate change, extreme weather, and natural disasters for a sustainable future," she said.

By focusing on digitalization and the environment, member economies can empower learners to adapt and retain employment, as well as encourage innovation to generate sustainable and inclusive growth//ANT