How is the OECD advising member countries for the future of work, ensuring inclusive and equitable access to quality skills development opportunities in the face of technological advancements, automation and digitalization?
«The OECD is working very closely with member countries on two fronts. First, we are helping countries understand how jobs and skill requirements are changing in the context of the future of work. This is essential to develop education and training systems that are responsive to these changes and to identify viable transitions for workers who may lose their jobs as a result of structural change. Second, we are supporting countries in making their training systems future ready. In other words, we need training systems that provide opportunities to learn that are attractive, affordable and effective».
What innovative approaches is the OECD promoting to foster inclusive skills ecosystems that address the needs of diverse populations, including marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and individuals facing social or economic disadvantages?
«Over the past few years, we have conducted in-depth analysis of the reasons why adults do not train. The vast majority – a good half of the adult population – do not even think of training as a concrete option for them. This is even more so for adults who face multiple disadvantages. This group do not understand the value of training or have not been able to identify opportunities that are relevant for them. Another 10-15% report barriers such as: the lack of time, for work or family responsibilities, the financial cost, and the fact that training is provided at an inconvenient time or place. All this points to the importance of helping adults navigate training and employment opportunities through quality career guidance. It also underscores the importance of providing flexible and modular training that are certified and can be stacked to achieve a qualification down the line. Training leave and financial subsidies are also essential to encourage under-represented groups to train. Online provision can also broaden access for marginalised communities and people with disabilities».
How is the OECD supporting EEA/EU member countries in developing future-oriented skills anticipation and matching systems to ensure that individuals acquire the skills demanded by evolving labor markets, thus enhancing their employability and reducing skills mismatches?
«We are working very closely with countries to address weaknesses in their skills assessment and anticipation systems. Often, this is a matter of strengthening the involvement of all stakeholders, of collecting information in a formal and at a granularity that is optimal for policy making, of disseminating the information that is generated in an effective way. We have conducted work on skills assessment and anticipation systems in general but also on specific sectors/issues such as the health workforce and the green transition. In our experience, the key challenge is always translating the information that is generated into valuable policies insights. Few countries use the information optimally to steer employment, education and training, and migration policies».
What research and policy insights is the OECD providing to address the potential impact of climate change and sustainability transitions on skills requirements, and how are member countries being encouraged to invest in green skills development for a more sustainable and inclusive future?
«The first piece of advice we provide to countries is to set up systems that measure the employment and skill implications of the green transition. For too long, we have disregarded the implications of mitigation policies on the labour market but the consequences could be quite significant. We expect that the green transition will bring about a modest employment gain overall but the distributional consequences are likely to be significant, hence a need to support workers who need to change occupation or sectors. Unless we act swiftly, the green transition is also likely to be slowed by skill shortages in crucial areas. Scaling up adult learning systems and adapting training content to include elements of greening will be crucial for workers, firms and governments».
