2026 Jobs and Development Conference
The 2026 Jobs and Development Conference took place in Hong Kong, China, on 9–10 October 2026, hosted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Institute for Emerging Market Studies (HKUST IEMS).
The conference was co-organized by the World Bank, UNU-WIDER, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), together with the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU), the Institute for Structural Research (IBS), and HKUST IEMS.
The two-day event brought together researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners to discuss policy-relevant research on jobs and development, including artificial intelligence, structural transformation, labour market policies, migration, skills, and the energy transition.
Conference programme
The conference featured keynote lectures, policy discussions, special sessions, and parallel research presentations.
Conference photographs
Explore photographs from the two-day conference, including keynote lectures, panel discussions, research presentations, and other highlights.
View the conference photo gallery
Keynote speakers
Professor Justin Yifu Lin — Peking University
Professor and Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics, Honorary Dean of the National School of Development, and Honorary Dean of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University.
Chair Professor of Economics, HKU Business School.
