Fast technological progress, deepening globalisation, aging societies and environmental challenges are rapidly transforming what work means today and how it is performed. This new world of work presents great opportunities for some, but also profound challenges for others. The report, subtitled Work for Human Development argues that policies should embrace all types of work, including care, creative and voluntary work and that they should pay particular attention to sustainability.

The report finds that the Asia-Pacific region may have been experiencing fast growth and rapid human development in recent years, but not necessarily fast job creation. The Lao PDR ranked 141st out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index in 2014, below the average in the region.