ILO and World Bank paper says GenAI may deepen labour-market divides

(DigWatch) A joint working paper by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank says generative AI is likely to reshape labour markets globally, but not in the same way across countries. The paper finds that advanced economies face greater overall exposure, while developing economies may see disruption arrive faster than productivity gains due to weaker digital infrastructure and differences in how work is organised. Prepared as a background study for the World Development Report 2026, the paper examines labour-market exposure to GenAI across 135 countries, covering about two-thirds of global employment. According to the study, digital infrastructure and job-task composition are among the main factors shaping the distribution of risks and opportunities between advanced and developing economies. – ILO and World Bank paper says GenAI may deepen labour-market divides | Digital Watch Observatory