Inter-regional Technical Forum on Skills for Trade, Employability and Inclusive Growth

Globalization has driven significant economic development and diversification in sectors with potential for growth in productive and higher value-added jobs. Yet, it has also imposed challenges on enterprises seeking workers with the right skills, and on workers seeking the skills they need to match the demands of a rapidly changing labour market. Skills development has been instrumental in providing access to productive and decent employment and ensuring that no one is left behind. So how do we meet these challenges?

The Forum discussed these issues and highlighted experience gained in implementing the G20 Training Strategy on creating a skilled workforce for strong, sustainable and balanced growth. Pillars of successful training strategies for development identified by the G20 Training Strategy in 2010 include: anticipating future skills needs, participation of social partners and sectoral approaches, labour market information, broad access to training, among others.

Participants included development partners and donor agencies, government officials, representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations, education and training providers from countries targeted under ILO programmes and projects, and international organizations. They were provided with a unique opportunity to share knowledge gained and lessons learned about effective skills and employability strategies for strengthening the links between training and productive and decent work.

The Forum was organized through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)–funded Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification (STED) programme, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) funded "Skills for Employment and Productivity in Low-Income countries" project.