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PECC Signature Project Workshop: Addressing Labor Shortages due to Low Birth Rates and Aging Population in the APEC Region

On August 13, 2025
Categories: PECC Events
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PECC Signature Project Workshop:

‘Addressing Labor Shortages Due to Low Birth Rates and Aging Population in the APEC Region’

13th August, 2025

FKI Tower in Yeouido, Seoul, Korea

 

 Program

13 August 2025, Tuesday
 14:00-14:40
Opening Session
 14:00-14:05
Opening Remarks
  • Mr. Tomoyuki Yoshida, Chief Executive Director, JANCPEC
  • Dr. Jukwan Lee, Director, KOPEC
 14:05-14:15 Welcoming Remarks
  • Dr. Hyunghwan Joo, Vice Chair, Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy (Former Minister for MOTIE, Korea)
 14:15-14:35
Keynote Speech
  • Dr. Hyuncheol Bryant Kim, Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University; Director, Institute of Population and Human Capital, Yonsei University; Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    (download presentation)
 14:35-14:40 Photo
 14:40-15:45
Session1: APEC’s Aging Populations and Economic Growth Strategies

Rapid population aging in East Asia and the broader APEC region poses structural challenges to sustaining productivity and economic growth. This session examines how aging affects the economies of China, Korea, US, and Japan through case studies of these four economies, followed by panel discussions on policy responses such as investing in human capital, leveraging digital technologies, and institutional reforms. The discussion will focus on identifying strategic approaches to transform demographic challenges into growth opportunities, examining critical success factors for translating technological investments into measurable productivity gains, and exploring concrete cooperation mechanisms that enable APEC economies to turn aging from an economic constraint into a competitive advantage.
 
Moderator:
  • Mr. Kensuke Yanagida, Research Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)

Presenters:

China’s Low Fertility Rate, Aging Population and Economic Strategies
Exploring demographic shifts, human capital investment, and digital transformation

  • Dr. Xin Yuan, Professor, Institute of Population and Development, School of Economics, Nankai University
    (download presentation)


Overcoming Korea’s Ultra-low Fertility Rate
Analyzing work-life balance, male participation in childcare, and inclusive labor market policies

  • Dr. Nayoung Kim, Research Fellow, Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE)
    (download presentation)


Women’s Health Policy and Economic Enablement: Frontiers in Reproductive Health and Technology
Comparative analysis on patient access to care in the APEC region


Challenges and Policy Directions for Sustaining Economic Growth in an Aging Society
Japan’s experiences with AI and robotics for productivity

  • Dr. Keiko Ito, Professor, Faculty of Economics, Chiba University (Pre-recorded)
    (download presentation)

Q&A and Discussion
15:45-16:00 Coffee Break
16:00-17:15 Session 2: Sustainable Growth: Demographic Shifts and Labor Market Adoption
Persistently low fertility rates, demographic transitions, and labor shortages are urgent issues for APEC economies. This session explores how APEC economies can collaborate to address these challenges through adaptive policy approaches. Based on case studies from Japan (UHC model), Korea (NOW approach), Chinese Taipei (gender equality and women's labor participation), and Canada (immigration policies), the discussion will focus on identifying APEC cooperation tasks and developing strategies to transform individual policy innovations into joint regional projects. The session aims to establish concrete frameworks for regional coordination and practical solutions that can be implemented across different APEC economies.

Moderator:

  • Dr. Sungbae An, Vice President for External Affairs, KIEP

Presenters:

Demography, Trade, and Social Policy: Comparisons with a Hundred Years Ago
Social policy for enhancing labor productivity and maintaining free trade

  • Dr. Yasuhiro Kamimura, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
    (download presentation)


Shaping the Future: Policy Paradigms for Fertility Recovery
Korea’s corporate role and the NOW (No One is Wasted) approach

  • Dr. Jin Sung Yoo, Senior Research Fellow, Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI)
    (download presentation)


Unmarried Adults and Gender Equality Matter in Low Fertility Contexts
Examining gender gaps, rising unmarried populations, and labor force participation

  • Dr. Yen-hsin Alice Cheng, Professor and Research Fellow, Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica
    (download presentation)


Successes and Failures of Cross-border Temporary Labour Migration Policies in Addressing Labour Shortages and Enhancing Economic Productivity
Lessons from Canada’s experience and implications for APEC economies.

  • Ms. Sharon Sun, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada)
    (download presentation)


Q&A and Discussion
17:15-17:20 Closing
  • Dr. Sungbae An, Vice President for External Affairs, KIEP
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