The Asia-Pacific region faces a pressing challenge: declining birth rates and aging populations are shrinking the workforce and threatening long-term growth. East Asia already records some of the world’s lowest fertility rates, while emerging economies are projected to experience similar demographic shifts in the coming decades.

To tackle these challenges, the project highlights key policy priorities:

• Boosting Productivity: Through digitalization and innovation in high-value industries and services, in line with APEC’s Enhanced Agenda for Structural Reform (EAASR).
• Inclusive Labor Markets: Expanding opportunities for women, older workers, and non-regular employees while addressing skill mismatches.
• Human Capital Development: Aligning education and training with structural industry shifts to better equip the workforce.
• Cross-Border Mobility: Facilitating skilled migration, supported by mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
• Strengthening Social Protection: Expanding healthcare, childcare, and eldercare, with a strong focus on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

This project underscores the urgent need for APEC to prioritize labor shortages, low birth rates, and aging populations in its agenda and strengthen regional cooperation for sustainable, inclusive growth.

Commentaries from experts in Japan, Korea, China, Chinese Taipei, and Canada are available:

• Unmarried Adults and Gender Equality Matter in Low Fertility Contexts by Yen-hsin Alice CHENG (Research Fellow, Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica) (Chinese Taipei)
• Challenges and Policy Directions for Sustaining Economic Growth and Enhancing Productivity in an Aging Society by Keiko ITO (Professor, Chiba University) (Japan)
• Demography, Trade, and Social Policy: Comparisons with a Hundred Years Ago by Yasuhiro KAMIMURA (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University) (Japan)
• What We Need to Do to Overcome Korea’s Ultra-low Fertility Rate by Nayoung KIM (Research Fellow, Korea Institute of Child Care and Education) (Korea)
• Successes and Failures of Cross-border Temporary Labour Migration Policies in Addressing Labour Shortages and Enhancing Economic Productivity by Sharon Zhengyang SUN (Distinguished Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation and Canada West Foundation/ Stephany Laverty, Senior Policy Analyst, Canada West Foundation) (Canada)
• Challenges and Policy Directions for Sustaining Economic Growth and Enhancing Productivity in an Aging Society by Yuan XIN (Professor, School of Economics, Nankai University) (China)
• Shaping the Future Together: Lessons from Korea on Rethinking Policy Paradigms for Fertility Recovery by Jin Sung YOO (Senior Research Fellow, Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI)) (Korea)