Event Summary
On November 5, AEI scholars Matt Weidinger, Brent Orrell, and Nicholas Eberstadt joined experts to discuss the 2025 OECD Employment Outlook. The conversation focused on the economic challenges of aging populations, declining fertility, and slowing productivity across developed countries. Panelists highlighted that closing employment gaps—by boosting women’s labor-force participation and enabling older adults to work longer—could help sustain GDP growth.
The discussion explored specific policy reforms to strengthen labor markets, including improving childcare access, promoting flexible work for mothers, delaying the retirement age, reducing barriers such as taxes and licensing, and expanding training and reskilling opportunities. Finally, participants considered how technology and AI could help address labor shortages while emphasizing that innovation must be paired with inclusive, adaptive policies to ensure long-term economic resilience.
—Hadar Zeevi
Event Description
The 2025 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Employment Outlook examines the latest labor market developments and prospects in countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This year’s report focuses on the enormous challenges that population aging poses to living standards and social cohesion more generally. Without swift changes in policies and behaviors, gross domestic product growth per capita will slow down significantly in most OECD countries.
Join us as experts discuss the 2025 OECD Employment Outlook and possible solutions OECD member countries could take to mitigate the effects of depopulation, such as by integrating underrepresented groups in the labor market, postponing retirement, implementing technological advances, increasing and updating job skills, and redesigning work.
Event Materials
Available upon request.
Event Transcript
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Agenda
12:45 p.m.
Registration opens.
1:00 p.m.
Opening Remarks:
Matt Weidinger, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Gopi Shah Goda, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Douglas Besharov, Professor, University of Maryland
1:15 p.m.
Panel I: The Demographic Pressures on Employment and the Economy
Participants:
Stephane Carcillo, Head of the Jobs and Income Division, Employment Labor and Social Affairs Directorate of the OECD
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director, Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment, Heritage Foundation
Douglas Besharov, Professor, University of Maryland (Moderator)
2:25 p.m.
Break
2:40 p.m.
Panel II: The Future of Labor Force Productivity
Participants:
Martin Neil Baily, Senior Fellow Emeritus, Brookings Institution
Rachel Greszler, Senior Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation
Mark Muro, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Brent Orrell, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute (Moderator)
3:50 p.m.
Break
4:05 p.m.
Panel III: How Will the Size of the Labor Market Evolve?
Participants:
Nicholas Eberstadt, Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy, American Enterprise Institute
Luke Pardue, Policy Director, Aspen Economic Strategy Group
Allison Schrager, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute
Gopi Shah Goda, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution (Moderator)
5:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks:
Gustavo Flores-Macías, Dean, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
5:30 p.m.
Adjournment
Reception will follow.
