The 3rd edition of the Global Labour Market Conference (GLMC), held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, brought together more than 10,000 participants and 45 Ministers under the theme Future in Progress. BUSINESSAfrica was strongly represented alongside its member federations, bringing African employers’ perspectives into high-level discussions on skills development, job creation, artificial intelligence (AI), labour market policies, and the evolving world of work.

Throughout the conference, leaders and members actively participated in panels, bilateral meetings, and regional exchanges with policymakers and employer organisations, including Saudi ministers and representatives from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). These engagements highlighted the importance of practical, employer-driven solutions to boost employment, strengthen enterprise competitiveness, and enhance economic resilience in a rapidly changing global environment.

On the panel “Trade Shifts: Where does work go from here?”, Jacqueline Mugo, IOE President and Secretary General BUSINESSAfrica, highlighted that as trade patterns, technology and global value chains evolve, labour markets must adapt in parallel. She emphasised the central role of employers as architects of future skills, including by clarifying emerging skills needs, embedding learning within business transformation, strengthening work-based learning and supporting SMEs and workforce planning. These efforts are essential to ensure that trade-driven growth translates into productive and sustainable employment.

Through its active participation in Riyadh, BUSINESSAfrica reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that African employers’ voices are heard in global debates on the future of work, while advancing practical, evidence-based solutions that support sustainable enterprises and quality jobs across the continent.