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As artificial intelligence commands the business world’s attention, reshaping industries and dominating headlines, this intense focus could overshadow other critical issues that may prove equally disruptive.
Number one on my list: global demographic transformation.
Birth rates worldwide have fallen steadily in recent decades, and we are now at a historic low, according to the IMF. It’s estimated that by 2030, the world could face a staggering talent shortage of over 85 million workers, with the most significant contributing factor being the rising inactivity among workers aged 55–74.
In the U.S. and UK, this alone accounts for more than a third of the labor gap. This should raise alarms in boardrooms and push leaders to reinvent their talent strategies.
While demographic shifts have been evident for decades, the conversation is too often about declining fertility rather than rising life expectancy. According to the United Nations Population Division, average global life expectancy improved to 71.7 years in 2022 and is expected to rise to 77.3 by 2050.
A changing landscape for older workers
People are living longer, and some want to remain in the workforce beyond traditional retirement age. And yet, organizations underutilize one of their most potent resources: older workers.
Across
