Prosperity's paradox: shrinking global workforce ahead

Global population is projected to decline by about a billion from its peak this century, not due to war or disease but rising wealth, education, and longevity leading to fewer births. The sharpest drops are in rich economies, shrinking the working-age population and risking slower growth, with shortages emerging in sectors like teaching, engineering, and nursing. Solutions call for a “revolution of minds”—automation/AI and upskilling—to keep economies afloat as the human base contracts.