Our Scans · (LF.8) Decent Work and Growth · Weekly Summary

• [New] Changes in government policy in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere and long-term growth in India, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America will drive the demand expansion, OPEC said, despite impressive progress by China in its shift to renewable energy. MarineLink
• [New] OPEC said in the report U.S. output of tight crude, another term for shale, likely peaked in 2025 at just over 9 million bpd, and sees modest total U.S. liquids supply growth of 400,000 bpd until 2030 and a production plateau thereafter. MarineLink
• [New] The opportunity for UK businesses to benefit from AI deployment is substantial, and AI-enabled gains are expected to become the main source of the UK's continued productivity growth. GOV.UK
• [New] Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest regional growth through 2033 due to expanding healthcare access, rising antibiotic consumption, and increasing prevalence of resistant bacterial infections. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Foundational principles of the EU AI Act and the EU Platform Work Directive will, through ratification, now begin reaching markets beyond Europe. National Law Review
• [New] Asia Pacific region is projected to achieve the fastest growth during the forecast period. Precedence Research
• [New] Supply chains continue to adapt, benefiting economies such as Vietnam, Taiwan and Mexico, while energy reallocation and AI-driven semiconductor demand sustain trade growth despite geopolitical disruptions and protectionist pressures. BBVA research
• [New] Employers will need to rethink workforce planning in 2026, as artificial intelligence automates low-complexity work, reshapes entry-level roles, and raises demand for staff who can combine technical ability with human skills. Reed.com
• [New] Within the eurozone itself, we expect a growth convergence, as Germany finally starts to see some meaningful growth again, while the outperformance of southern Europe is expected to see some headwinds from the end of the EU's Recovery & Resilience Facility. ABN AMRO Bank
• [New] The U.S. is expected to see steady growth, backed by critical mineral demand and policy support. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The power consumption of datacenters has a compound annual growth rate of 20.8% between 2024 and 2030, rising from 387 terawatt-hours to a forecast of at least 1,200 TWh. nextplatform
• [New] Sky-high AI IPO valuations are not obviously justified by fundamentals, but they are explainable by a mix of unprecedented revenue growth, investor FOMO, and a belief that frontier AI will reshape the global economy. Medium
• [New] Vendors that move quickly to establish fintech partnerships and regulatory licences in growth markets, particularly India, Nigeria, and Indonesia, will create durable competitive advantages that pure-software platforms cannot easily replicate. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Vietnam's growth potential remains strong, with government targets that could drive major economic change. QuotedData
• [New] Emerging powers such as India are expected to expand their influence, leveraging favourable demographics and economic growth potential despite domestic challenges and regional tensions. GOV.UK
• [New] Lithium-ion battery recycling, hydrometallurgical processing for battery-grade output production, direct recycling cathode active material recovery, and second-life battery systems before final recycling represent the highest-growth investment vectors through 2034. IMARC Group
• [New] The asset class plays an important role in channelling capital towards UK growth companies and the change risks dampening investor appetite at a time when there is an attractive pipeline of growth companies seeking investment. GlobeNewswire
• [New] Next wave of growth While established sectors like RMG will remain at the forefront of growth, the Smart Bangladesh trajectory requires further diversification of business and investment opportunities. The Daily Star
• [New] Functional pet treats and supplements, fresh and refrigerated pet food meal subscriptions, and personalized AI-driven nutrition platforms represent the three highest-growth investment vectors through 2034. IMARC Group
• [New] Harmonized travel and health rules are essential to restore confidence and restart tourism which will contribute to economic growth globally. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Non-store based distribution channel, Accessories product type, and Middle East & Africa region represent the highest-growth investment vectors through 2034. IMARC Group
• [New] In Canada, retail sales data for April and a flash estimate for May are expected to show continued headline growth, largely driven by higher gasoline prices. financialpost
• [New] UK growth is set to take a hit due to trade disruption while inflation could race past 6% in the worst case scenario. City AM

Last updated: 22 June 2026