The Balkans are undergoing two major transformations at once: rapid technological change and profound demographic and labour-market shifts. Digitalisation, AI, automation and platform work are reshaping the organisation of work , while emigration, growing inward migration, ageing population and labour shortages are changing who works, where, and under which conditions. The region is therefore experiencing both - the loss of workers through emigration and the arrival of workers from the neighbouring countries and beyond. This trends are creating new patterns of labour mobility and raising questions about integration, working conditions and workers’ rights.
“Who Shapes the Future of Work in the Balkans?” conference brings these developments together, creating a space for dialogue between researchers, trade unions, civil society organisations, technology centres, private-sector actors including start-ups, and political actors. Together we will examine, how technological and demographic changes interact, how different interests and forms of power shape these processes, and how developments within the Balkans connect to wider European and global trends. Particular attention will be given to emerging innovation ecosystems, start-ups and technology hubs, as well as new forms of digital and remote work and their implications for workplaces and labour markets.
Day 1 — 22 October: Changing World of Work
Day 1 will combine keynote presentations, a panel discussion, and an interactive Research & Innovation Bazaar. The keynote sessions will examine how technology, migration, and labour shape the future of work in the Balkans. The Research & Innovation Bazaar will provide an opportunity to showcase technologies, research, start-ups, and emerging initiatives from the region. The day will conclude with a panel discussion on who will shape digital transformation, its benefits and risks, and the roles of governments, businesses, workers, and trade unions.
Day 2 — 23 October: The Future of Work
Day 2 will critically examine how technological and social transformations may reshape working conditions in the Balkans and across Europe. The keynote sessions will explore rapid advances in automation, AI, robotics, and data-driven work alongside ageing populations, labour shortages, and migration. Together, these perspectives will consider the implications for jobs and workers, as well as for social protection, skills, lifelong learning, and inequality. The closing panel will connect these issues by examining the links between technological change and migration, and how the future of work can be shaped in fair and inclusive ways.
