Future of Work: Preparing for Disruption

Shu Yu serves as a Senior Economist in the World Bank's Prospects Group, where she specializes in development economics and political economy research. After earning her PhD in Economics from the University of Groningen and BSc from Fudan University, she has built an impressive research portfolio focusing on informal economies, political stability, and long-term growth. Her recent work includes leading the comprehensive analysis of global informality through the development of a novel database covering over 160 economies, which has become a fundamental resource for understanding informal economic activities worldwide. She has published extensively on topics ranging from the Belt and Road Initiative to political leadership impacts on economic stability, with her research appearing in prominent journals. Before joining the World Bank, she gained valuable experience at various institutions including the University of Rochester, International Monetary Fund, and the Conference Board. Her current work focuses on understanding business cycles in informal economies, digitalization's impact on inclusive growth, and the relationship between financial development and informality, demonstrating her commitment to advancing understanding of critical development economics issues.

Shwetlena Sabarwal serves as a Lead Economist in the World Bank's Education Global Practice, where she has established herself as a prominent voice in education economics and labor market research. After earning her PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota in 2008, she has built an impressive career combining academic research with practical policy implementation. Her work spans multiple areas, including education economics, labor markets, and climate change, serving as a principal author for both the World Development Report 2019 on the Changing Nature of Work and the World Development Report 2018 on Learning to Realize Education's Promise. She currently leads the World Bank's global solution group on Education and Climate Change and has managed the Bank's education initiatives in several countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Her research focuses on improving education service delivery, learning outcomes, and teacher-student dynamics, notably introducing concepts like Learning Adjusted Years of Schooling which has become integral to the World Bank's Human Capital Index. Her expertise extends to entrepreneurship studies, particularly examining female entrepreneurship in developing regions, and she has conducted numerous education impact evaluations across African nations including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Truman G. Packard serves as Lead Economist in the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank, where he has established himself as a leading voice in labor economics and social protection policy since 1997. After earning his PhD in Economics from the University of Oxford, he has built an impressive career analyzing how social insurance systems impact household decisions regarding work, savings, and risk management. His work spans multiple regions and includes leading major initiatives such as the East Asia Pacific at Work report and the current "Protecting All: Risk Sharing for a Diverse and Diversifying World of Work" white paper. Throughout his career at the World Bank, he has contributed to numerous significant publications, including reports on European economic growth and informal labor integration, while providing analytical support to governments worldwide on improving social protection systems. His expertise encompasses pensions, unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and health coverage impacts on labor markets, with current work focusing on labor market issues in Indonesia, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. He previously led the World Bank's Human Development program in the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Timor Leste, and has been instrumental in delivering financial and knowledge-transfer services to governments across Europe and Central Asia, East Asia Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, demonstrating his comprehensive understanding of global labor markets and social protection systems.

Aart Kraay currently serves as the World Bank Group Deputy Chief Economist and Director of Development Policy in the Development Economics Vice-Presidency, bringing nearly three decades of expertise in development economics. After completing his B.Sc. in economics from the University of Toronto in 1990 and Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1995, he joined the World Bank where he has held various leadership positions. His research portfolio spans critical areas including macroeconomics in developing countries, international capital movements, growth and inequality, governance, and the Chinese economy. His scholarly impact is evidenced by numerous publications in prestigious journals and his development of the Worldwide Governance Indicators, which have become fundamental tools in development economics. Beyond his research contributions, he has held visiting positions at the International Monetary Fund and MIT's Sloan School of Management, while also teaching at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. He serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Development Economics and has previously co-edited the World Bank Economic Review, demonstrating his continued influence in shaping development economics research and policy.

Federica Saliola serves as an Advisor and Lead Economist in the World Bank's Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice, where she leads dialogue on private sector development and financial sector policies. After earning her PhD in Economics and Laurea in Political Science from the University of Rome, she has built an impressive career at the World Bank, including co-directing the World Development Report 2019 on The Changing Nature of Work. Her research portfolio spans firm productivity, global value chains, and regulatory impacts on growth and competition. From 2013 to 2017, she managed the World Bank's Development Economics Global Indicators Group, where she developed global programs focusing on agribusiness, skills, information technology, and public procurement. She has led several influential World Bank publications, including the Enabling the Business of Agriculture series, Benchmarking Public Procurement reports, and Procuring Infrastructure PPPs. Most recently, she managed the Jobs Umbrella Multi-Donors Trust Fund, supporting the integration of jobs effects into development lending policies across 40 countries. Her contributions extend to various World Bank reports on women's entrepreneurship, European economic growth, and private sector development in the Middle East and North Africa region.