Issued by the APEC Human Resources
Development Working Group
Jeju, Republic of Korea,
9 May 2025
APEC economies convened for a four-day
meeting in Jeju to address a growing set of challenges
facing the region’s workforce, including the impacts of
artificial intelligence, aging populations and persistent
gaps in education and employment systems.
Speaking at
the opening plenary of the APEC Human Resources Development
Working Group on Wednesday, Seok-Hwan Oh, Vice Minister of
Korea’s Ministry of Education, emphasized the urgent need
to reform education systems to keep pace with technological
disruption.
“We are at a turning point,” Vice
Minister Oh said. “Education must go beyond transmitting
knowledge. It must connect learners, encourage critical
thinking and promote adaptability.”
He highlighted
Korea’s initiative to introduce AI-powered digital
textbooks designed to personalize learning and equip
students with problem-solving skills.
“The starting
point of change is in the classroom,” he said. “We are
supporting teacher-led innovation and expanding digital
access to ensure no student is left
behind.”
Throughout the day, delegates examined how
APEC member economies can update education and employment
strategies to remain relevant in the face of rapid change. A
key theme was the growing mismatch between what schools
teach and what labor markets
need.
Chang-june Kwon, Korea’s Deputy
Minister of Employment and Labor, addressed the structural
changes sweeping through global labor markets. “The spread
of artificial intelligence, low birth rates, and an aging
population are reshaping how economies grow, how people work
and what skills are needed,” he
said.
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Deputy Minister Kwon outlined
policy reforms Korea is pursuing, including flexible labor
systems, stronger support for lifelong learning and better
integration of women and older adults into the workforce.
“We must reduce rigidities in wage and working-hour
structures and create a fairer labor ecosystem that supports
job transitions and reduces disparities,” he
added.
He also called for better protections for
vulnerable workers, particularly those in non-standard
employment such as platform and freelance jobs. “We must
build an employment safety net without blind spots,” Kwon
said.
The meeting includes representatives from all 21
APEC economies and serves as a lead-up to two
ministerial-level discussions on education and workforce
development next week. Sessions this week will focus on
disability inclusion, digital skills, regional policy
coordination and ways to engage younger generations in
emerging job sectors.
“The human element of economic
growth is too often overlooked. This working group is vital
to making sure our people are prepared for the future, not
just our markets.” said Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive
Director of the APEC Secretariat.
Pedrosa pointed to
APEC’s long history of focusing on human capacity
building, including projects that promote digital literacy,
inclusive employment and future-oriented education policies.
“We need stronger stakeholder engagement and open dialogue
to turn our shared challenges into shared progress,” he
said.
The agenda for the week includes updates on
regional policy frameworks and new proposals for regional
collaboration. One proposal introduced by Korea calls for
the creation of a new regional fund focused on supporting
future generations, which would invest in policies that
address education gaps, youth employment and digital
transition.
Officials are also reviewing current
initiatives on disability employment, digital employment
trends and cross-sector coordination. Including sessions
that focus on case studies from across the region, as well
as discussions with other APEC groups working on transport,
services and small business development.
Zhao Li,
Chair of the Human
Resources Development Working Group, said the group’s
work is focused on finding practical solutions that enable
private sector job growth.
“In this landmark 50th
plenary, we are not just marking a milestone. We are
building a bridge between what APEC has achieved in
workforce policy and what it must now do to stay ahead,”
Li said.
“Our focus is to fuel the economic growth
of the region through human resources development, helping
employers find the workers with the right skills and
supporting the creation of private sector jobs,” Li added.
“This meeting allows us to align approaches that can
inform ministerial-level action.”
The working group
will conclude on 10 May with presentations of key
recommendations and outcomes from its thematic networks.
Discussions will help shape APEC’s broader agenda for
sustainable and inclusive growth through people-centered
development.
The outcomes of the Jeju meeting will
directly inform the upcoming Human Resources Development
Ministerial Meeting and APEC Education Ministerial Meeting,
both scheduled to take place later this week. Ministers are
expected to consider the policy proposals and collaborative
models developed during this working-level dialogue as they
chart the region’s next steps in building a resilient,
inclusive and future-ready
workforce.
