Ageless Talent: How the HR Services Industry Empowers Every Generation

As labour markets worldwide grapple with demographic shifts, technological disruption, and economic uncertainty, the World Employment Confederation (WEC) releases a new report highlighting how inclusive, flexible, and future-ready workforce strategies can unlock the full potential of every age group.

WEC’s Social Impact Report 2025, Ageless Talent: How the HR Services Industry Empowers Every Generation, draws on global data, expert insights, and real-life stories to show how the HR services industry is proving that generational diversity is not a source of tension but a foundation for resilience, innovation, and growth.

“Generational diversity is a force for the future, and embracing flexible workforce solutions is a proactive strategy to turn it from a challenge into an opportunity,” says Bettina Schaller, President of the World Employment Confederation. “Encouraging labour market participation across all age groups is essential – but it must be done sustainably. Without policy innovation, the shift toward flexible work risks becoming uneven across regions, sectors, and social groups, exacerbating inequalities.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Labour Market Diagnosis: Four trends are affecting workforce dynamics, from the demographic drift and skills shortfall to digital disruption and the elusive economy.
• HR Services as Catalysts for Change: The HR services industry has been stepping up, from a provider of talent solutions to a strategic partner helping organisations navigate this complexity and turn generational diversity into a competitive advantage.
• Solutions for Every Generation: From youth apprenticeship programmes to mid-career reskilling and mature worker reintegration, the HR services industry offers solutions that empower and unlock the potential of every generation in the workforce.

WEC’s Social Impact Report 2025 largely draws on extensive research, data, and insights provided by Lightcast and Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA). Both organisations have been long-standing and engaged partners of the World Employment Confederation, providing broader labour market analytics and insights about the staffing industry that help raise awareness about the positive role of HR services.

“With labour markets changing at lightning speed, wait-and-see is no longer an option. Demographic shifts, AI, and global instability are reshaping both who is going to do the work and the skills needed. That’s why the insights in this report are essential to help policymakers and the staffing industry prepare for the future of work” – Elena Magrini, Head of Global Research at Lightcast

“WEC’s 2025 Social Impact Report comes at an important moment as labour markets and the intermediaries that operate within them are faced with profound change. Fragile employment growth has been exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, escalating protectionism, technological disruption, skills mismatches and labour supply pressures. SIA is very pleased to contribute to the insights within WEC’s report to help raise awareness of the important trends reshaping the HR services landscape.” – John Nurthen, Executive Director of Global Research at SIA.

Join us on Thursday 18 September for an insightful WEConversations webinar to dive into the report’s findings and hear from our experts!

Register here.