Global Scans · Decent Work and Growth · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• [New] Building Future Ready HR Teams For the AI Age Gartner AI is expected to automate many HR tasks, with 60% of HR work predicted to be completed by intelligent agents by 2030, pushing HR roles to evolve. The ILR School
• [New] Employment growth in 2026 is projected at 0.5% in upper middle-income economies, 1.8% in lower middle-income economies, and 3.1% in low-income countries. Human Resources Online
• [New] If margin pressures increase or revenue growth slows in 2026, labour hoarding could turn into labour shedding, as businesses scramble to streamline operations amid fierce competition, technological shifts and geopolitical uncertainties. Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise
• [New] WORKFORCE Mental health takes center stage: CEOs elevate it above gender equality and work conditions A worldwide priority: CEOs across the US, Europe, and Japan rank mental health as one of the top three social issues they will prioritize in 2026. The Conference Board
• [New] By 2026, B2B marketers are expected to embrace Search Engineering as a growth strategy, ensuring their brands are discoverable not just on search engines, but via AI assistants, large language models, marketplaces, and enterprise research tools. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] Key demands include enhanced funding for AI and clean energy, digital infrastructure growth, and identical opportunities for private universities to build a future-ready, equitable talent pool for India. Outlook Business
• [New] For destinations like Jaipur, targeted budgetary support for tourism infrastructure, heritage-sensitive development and sustainable hospitality projects will help enhance global competitiveness while preserving cultural identity and driving inclusive growth. Outlook Business
• [New] Global growth is projected to remain subdued at about 2.6% in 2026, while growth in developing economies excluding China slows to around 4.2%. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• [New] The World Bank projects 6.5% growth in 2026; Moody's expects India to remain the fastest-growing G20 economy with growth of 6.4% in 2026 and 6.5% in 2027; the IMF has raised its projections to 6.6% for 2025 and 6.2% for 2026. Free Press Journal
• [New] The scenario points towards India becoming a major economic powerhouse in 2026, with a projected GDP growth of 7.4% to 7.6%, making it one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. Free Press Journal
• [New] In 2026, India will find itself in a unique position, drawing lessons from the events of 2025, where growth remained resilient despite geopolitical tensions and slowing trade, as the global economy grappled with uncertainties. Free Press Journal
• [New] Danish suppliers have developed implementation models that reduce risk for SME adopters - modular systems that can be expanded incrementally, collaborative designs that work alongside existing workers, and user interfaces that maintenance staff can manage without specialised robotics training. HowToRobot
• [New] The projected growth is being driven by rising global chemical production, expanding international supply chains, and increased demand for specialized chemical logistics services capable of safely handling hazardous and temperature-sensitive materials. WSI
• [New] Projections from industry analysts suggest continued strong growth - with global capacity expected to expand rapidly toward the end of the decade as markets in Europe, the Americas and Asia accelerate deployments. GlobalCom PR Network
• [New] By unveiling next-gen mission autonomy technology during live UK trials, Lockheed Martin further underlined its commitment to innovation in the defence sector, generating investor interest and confidence in its potential for future growth. morpher.com
• [New] A significant contract between another aerospace company and Israel for F-15IA fighter jets could have also positively impacted LMT, as it highlights the strength and growth potential in the defence sector. morpher.com
• [New] The neurology devices industry is projected to expand from USD 16.91 billion in 2025 to USD 35.91 billion by 2035, registering a compound annual growth rate of 7.82% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2035. openpr
• [New] Key markets including Edge AI, Generative AI, Quantum Computing, AI in Healthcare (specific to the MENA region), and AI in Food Safety and Quality Control are forecasted to experience over 30% compound annual growth rates through 2030. Yahoo Finance UK
• [New] The EU and Jordan will explore opportunities on how Jordanian companies could make better use of the simplified Rules of Origin Scheme to support Jordan in the context of the Jordan refugee crisis, while continuing to work on building export capacity and reinforcing their competitiveness. EEAS
• [New] Several large developing economies, including China, India and Indonesia, are expected to continue experiencing solid growth driven by resilient domestic demand or targeted policy measures. FirstPost
• [New] Economic growth in India is projected to moderate from an estimated 7.4% in 2025 to 6.6% in 2026. FirstPost
• [New] India is projected to grow at 6.6% in 2026, registering an exceptionally high growth in a challenging global environment, with resilient private consumption and strong public investment largely offsetting the impact of high US tariffs, the United Nations has said. FirstPost
• [New] Analysts including Gartner expect global IT spending to continue rising, with growth concentrated in AI infrastructure and AI-capable devices. The Daily Star

Last updated: 18 January 2026