The UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, on 24 June 2026, convened CATALYZE 2026: Social — From Commitment to Collective Impact. The event brought together business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers, development partners, and industry experts to mobilise collective action and equip businesses with the knowledge, partnerships, and practical approaches needed to strengthen performance through responsible business practices.
LIRNEasia was a session partner for “AI, Jobs & the Future Workforce: Navigating Uncertainty, Skills & Inclusion”, which explored how AI is changing workplaces and labour markets, and what these shifts mean for businesses, workers, skills and inclusion. LIRNEasia Senior Research Manager Gayani Hurulle moderated this session, framing the discussion around knowns and unknowns based on research emerging in the area.
LIRNEasia Research Manager Gayani Hurulle presenting at CATALYZE 2026
In her presentation, Gayani highlighted that the conversation surrounding technological change and concerns over job displacement have been a longstanding concern. She also drew attention to the disproportionate impact that AI is expected to have on women and young people globally (and some emerging empirical insights on impacts on sectors like IT/BPM). Her presentation also explored discussion points on the implications AI would have on employment, skills, improving productivity, and inclusion.
Addressing these concerns, the dialogue included multiple audience polls featuring questions that explored participants’ perceptions and experiences of AI’s impact on the job market, skills, workplaces, and the availability of AI upskilling pathways within their organizations. Audience polls and the discussion suggested that improved efficiency was the dominant perceived workplace impact of AI. Many participants reported seeing changes in the number of vacancies for existing job roles, while a smaller but still notable share reported the creation of AI-related roles and the incorporation of AI capabilities into existing job descriptions. On-the-job training was the most offered or encouraged AI-skilling pathway among participants.
Participants at the session on “AI, Jobs & the Future Workforce: Navigating Uncertainty, Skills & Inclusion” moderated by LIRNEasia Senior Research Manager Gayani Hurulle
