A Bibliometric Analysis of Literature on Labour and Skill Shortages: Implications for the Future of Work in the Asia-Pacifc and Beyond

The rapidly evolving diffusion of digital technologies, the transition to a climate-neutral economy, and the changing nature of the future of work have been considered the dominant phenomena of this millennium, resulting in labour and skill shortages across developed and developing economies worldwide. Although the Asia-Pacific region has a workforce of over 2 billion, it is estimated to face critical labour and skill shortages of nearly 50 million by 2030. The size of the workforce and the associated shortages have implications for the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This chapter conducts a bibliometric analysis to examine the literature on ‘labour and skills shortages’. It maps the most and least prominent research themes, research outlets, and influential researchers. The findings have implications for scholars, industry professionals, and policymakers.