Research Seminar on the Impact of COVID-19 on Skilling, Upskilling and Reskilling in Enterprises
English
ILO
The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org
Anticipating and matching skills needs
Anticipating and building skills for the future is essential to a rapidly changing labour market. This applies to changes in the types and levels of skills needed as well as in occupational and technical areas. Effective methods to anticipate future skills needs and avoid potential mismatches include: sustained dialogue between employers and trainers, coordination across government institutions, labour market information systems, employment services and performance reviews of training institutions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant, unprecedented changes to the way many of us work and learn. As uncertainty about the future of work increases, it is becoming even more necessary that people are empowered with the right skills through timely and relevant skilling, upskilling and reskilling efforts. This is so people can become more agile and resilient, and able to cope with the challenges posed not only by the current pandemic but also by future developments more generally.
In view of the significant interruption to skills development activities due to the pandemic, several international organizations conducted a global online survey to shed light on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on skilling, upskilling and reskilling of employees, apprentices and interns/trainees in enterprises and other organizations.
The global survey and the survey report are the result of collaboration between ten key international and regional development partners: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Commission (EC), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the European Training Foundation (ETF), the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the World Bank Group (WBG).
The survey focused on three main areas:
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on skilling, upskilling and reskilling of employees, apprentices and interns/trainees.
- The good practices and innovative solutions instigated by various enterprises and other organizations to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.
- Policy recommendations to address the impact of the pandemic once lock-downs and other restrictions are lifted and in the future.
Objectives of the seminar
The main objectives of the seminar are to:
- present the key findings from the global survey;
- launch the survey report; and
- highlight innovative solutions and policy options to enhance the agility and resilience of skills development systems in the long-run.
To register, click here: https://ilo-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dtOmm87JQ3a9kQBykFIooQ
To learn more about the event, click on the Concept Note available below.