Published on: 2026-10-19
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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16 October 2026 Sustainable Development Goals
Rapid changes—from the development of artificial intelligence to the adoption of renewable energy and demographic shifts—are transforming the global economy. They open new opportunities but can also deepen socio-economic inequality, according to a new UN report.
To benefit from the fruits of these changes, special skills and access to the latest technologies are often required, so disadvantaged groups risk being left behind.
Women, youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, and low-income populations are particularly vulnerable, emphasize the authors of the World Social Report 2026. They offer governments recommendations to help ensure that everyone benefits from progress.
Integration as a Priority
Social integration is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity, according to a report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
Empowering marginalized groups increases the number of able-bodied people, strengthens the country’s human capital, stimulates innovation and entrepreneurship, enables more efficient use of labor resources, and ensures a wider distribution of the benefits from productivity growth, the document says.
“Inclusive societies are more productive, resilient, and prosperous,” emphasized UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his video message on the occasion of the report presentation.
Social integration measures need to be taken without delay: for those who have found themselves “overboard,” it will be even harder to catch up later, the authors warn.
What needs to be done
As artificial intelligence transforms labor markets, the report’s authors urge governments to invest in continuous education and retraining of workers whose jobs may disappear or undergo significant changes.
The transition to renewable energy should also be accompanied by support for workers and communities dependent on fossil fuel extraction—through retraining, alternative employment, and social assistance.
To bridge the digital divide, governments should expand access to affordable internet, digital infrastructure, and technology training, especially in less affluent communities.
Another key recommendation is to stop evaluating growth primarily by GDP and also take into account poverty reduction, access to education and healthcare, employment guarantees, inequality levels, and environmental protection. Economic growth from which only a small part of the population benefits cannot be considered inclusive, the report says.
Where to get funds
Such investments require resources, and many developing countries face financial constraints.
Almost half of the world’s poorest countries are either in a debt crisis or at high risk of one occurring, and interest payments relative to budget revenues have reached their highest level in decades, the Secretary-General warned.
He called on leaders to fulfill the commitments made last year in the Doha Political Declaration on Social Development and the Seville Commitment on Development Financing. Guterres also advocated for the reform of international financial institutions to better represent the interests of developing countries.
“Change is inevitable. Inequality and isolation are not,” he emphasized.
“Let us work together to ensure that the profound transformations changing our world help build societies based on justice, dignity, and opportunities for all,” urged the Secretary-General.
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