Asian Development Bank

Achieving Skill Mobility in the ASEAN Economic Community Asian Development Bank

This report examines the challenges the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states face under the ASEAN Economic Community in achieving the goal of greater mobility for the highly skilled, including hurdles in recognizing professional qualifications, opening up access to certain jobs, and a limited willingness by professionals to move due to perceived cultural, language, and socioeconomic differences. The cost of these barriers is staggering and could reduce the region's competitiveness. This report offers a range of policy recommendations, taking into account best practices locally and across the region.