Dubai: The UAE's use of artificial intelligence (AI) in labour market analysis and policymaking could serve as a model for other countries, regionally and globally, Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said.
According to Emirates News Agency, Houngbo expressed that the UAE government is leveraging AI to conduct deep analysis and prediction of the labour market, providing policymakers with timely tools for decision-making. In an interview at the World Governments Summit (WGS 2026) in Dubai, he further commended the UAE's role in advancing labour standards, skills development, and inclusive employment, describing the cooperation with the country as constructive and forward-looking.
Houngbo emphasized the UAE's active participation in ILO deliberations, noting its involvement in international labour conferences and the ILO's Governing Body. "The organisation is working closely with the UAE through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation," he stated.
Discussing global labour market trends, Houngbo mentioned that the ILO has recently completed its annual World Economic and Social Outlook, which shows overall improvements in employment conditions. The global employment rate for 2026 is estimated to be around 4.9 percent, slightly better than in recent years. However, he warned that while headline figures may seem positive, they mask significant challenges, including the 2.1 billion people working in the informal economy who lack sufficient protection and have negative impacts on tax collection.
He also highlighted concerns about youth exclusion from labour markets, noting high levels of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETs). While global unemployment stands at about 4.9 percent, equivalent to around 186 million people, the figure rises when accounting for those who have stopped looking for jobs, which he termed as the 'job gap.' When these individuals are included, approximately 400 million people wish to work but are currently not working.
Despite these challenges, Houngbo remarked that global labour markets are showing signs of improvement, emphasizing the need for sustained policy action. He outlined the ILO's priorities, stressing the importance of refocusing on its core mandate amid a complex global context marked by questioned multilateralism, geopolitical shifts, demographic pressures, and rapid technological change.
Houngbo reiterated the ILO's central role as a normative agency, which involves setting international labour standards, ensuring their ratification and implementation, and supporting countries through its independent supervisory system. He further highlighted the necessity of adapting labour protections to new forms of work, particularly as small businesses and self-employed workers blur traditional distinctions between workers, employers, and SMEs.
He underscored the ILO's fundamental principles and rights at work, including freedom of association, collective bargaining, social protection, and social dialogue, as essential for promoting decent work worldwide. Addressing the impact of AI and digital technologies, Houngbo acknowledged the difficulty of making long-term predictions due to the fast pace of change. He noted that while automation has affected millions of jobs, it has also created millions of new ones. According to ILO estimates, fully automatable jobs account for about 3.3 percent, while nearly 25 percent of jobs and tasks are more likely to benefit from augmentation rather than elimination.
Houngbo concluded by emphasizing the importance of investing in people, particularly through skills development, upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning.