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] AI could significantly impact nearly 40% of jobs worldwide, presenting both opportunities and risks for income growth and inequality. AdvisorAnalyst.com
• [New] AI has the potential to double U.S. labour productivity growth, increasing it by approximately 1.8% if widespread adoption occurs. AdvisorAnalyst.com
• [New] AI will follow past technological changes and add net jobs and growth. Democracy Journal
• [New] Within five to seven years, AI's ability to automate portions of work will be roughly equivalent to adding 16 million to 17 million workers to the US labour force. MIT Technology Review
• [New] Growth for 2026 is expected to be stable versus 2025, at roughly 5-6 percent year over year-slower than the pace of 2024. / China ResourceWise
• [New] In 2026, sustainable growth, operational maturity, and strategic clarity will matter as much as top-line expansion. Vertafore
• [New] Asia Pacific will maintain fastest growth trajectory, driven by China's electronics and EV dominance, India's aerospace and defence expansion, and Japan's advanced materials leadership. The National Law Review
• [New] South America is expected to experience significant growth during the forecast period, driven by strategic international partnerships, global collaborations, and robust regulatory and policy support. Precedence Research
• [New] As PwC's Asset and Wealth Management Revolution Asia Pacific 2025 report found, Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region for asset and wealth management, with assets under management expanding at a growth rate of 6.8% through 2030. Ministry of Trade and Industry
• [New] Growth in the Asia Pacific, Europe & Middle East will lead to increased reliability and improved operational efficiencies by developing or upgrading existing systems, as well as improving reliability and efficiency of operations and continuing to develop them over time. SkyQuest Technology Consulting
• [New] While North America currently leads, other regions, particularly Asia-Pacific, are expected to show rapid growth as space programs expand and AI technologies are increasingly adopted worldwide. The National Law Review
• [New] ADMA Biologics, recently presenting at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, has shown robust growth with a projected revenue increase to $635 million in 2026, up from previous estimates. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Based on current estimates, about 80% of the 8% expected S&P 500 earnings growth for the quarter will be driven by the technology sector, which excludes several leading AI players including Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta. Dietz & Lynch Capital
• [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

Last updated: 25 January 2026