Two Playbooks, One Goal: Navigating Social Mobility in Asia’s Twin Cities

In an era of rapid economic and technological change, how do Asia's two global cities ensure that growth translates into upward social mobility – especially for our next generation?

Social mobility remains a defining challenge for advanced economies navigating structural shifts in labour demand, demographic change and evolving skillset requirements. Youth mobility is an increasingly important dimension of this challenge, as younger generations face new barriers like shrinking jobs, skills mismatches and uncertain career pathways amid rapid technological change. While Hong Kong and Singapore share common pressures as global cities, their policy approaches to labour and wage protection, workforce resilience and opportunities for youth advancement reflect distinct institutional choices and socio-economic priorities.

This session will explore how governments can design labour market policies that both protect workers and enhance productivity, while providing ample opportunities for our next generation. It will examine the future of jobs, skills and career pathways, as well as youth mobility in an economy increasingly shaped by technological disruption. It will also consider the role of philanthropy, employers, and civil society in bridging gaps that public policy alone cannot address—particularly in supporting individuals facing barriers to workforce participation and career development.