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Canada: Economic Action Plan 2013

Canada: Economic Action Plan 2013

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Canada: Economic Action Plan 2013
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Governments

Governments hold a wealth of knowledge on skills development, and are increasingly realizing the value of learning from each others’ experiences. Their policy documents, programme evaluations, and research findings contain their experience and ideas on how to better link skills to employment

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Identifier
skpGov
Slug
governments
Topics:

Access to training

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Access for all to good quality education, vocational training and workplace learning is a fundamental principle of social cohesion and economic growth. Some groups of people may require targeted attention if they are to benefit from education, training and employment opportunities.  

This is particularly the case for disadvantaged youth, lower skilled workers, people with disabilities, and people in rural communities. The attractiveness of vocational education and training is enhanced when combined with entrepreneurship training and when public policies encourage utilization of higher skills by business. 
 

Identifier
skpATSU
Slug
access-to-training

Training quality and relevance

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Identifier
skpTrainQR
Slug
training-quality-and-relevance
Knowledge Products:

National policies and initiatives

National legislation, policies and initiatives on the issue of training and skills development and the world of work. 

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Identifier
skpNatPol
Slug
national-policies-and-initiatives
Publication Date:
03 Jul 2013
Open
wcmstest4_053857.htm
Skills training is a central element of Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2013. The Plan introduces key measures to address the issue of skills mismatch and to connect Canadians with available jobs by equipping them with the skills and training they need to obtain high-quality, well-paying jobs. It is also helping businesses in vital sectors find the talent they need to remain competitive domestically and internationally. The initiatives, programs and services developed as part of the Action Plan address, among others, such issues as broad access to training and apprenticeship opportunities, continuing education and lifelong learning, supporting youth, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples, older and migrant workers in gaining access to training and employment programs.
Subject Tags:

Apprenticeships

Slug
apprenticeships
Identifier
639

Lifelong learning

Slug
lifelong-learning
Identifier
400

People with disabilities

Slug
people-with-disabilities
Identifier
323

School-to-work transition

Slug
school-to-work-transition
Identifier
652

Youth

Slug
youth
Identifier
319
Regions:

Americas

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Countries and territories:

Disconnected: Skills, education, and employment in Latin America

Disconnected: Skills, education, and employment in Latin America

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Disconnected: Skills, education, and employment in Latin America
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Information is gathered from other international organizations that promote skills development and the transition from education and training to work. The Interagency Group on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IAG-TVET) was established in 2009 to share research findings, coordinate joint research endeavours, and improve collaboration among organizations working at the international and national levels.

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Identifier
skpIntOrg
Slug
international-organizations
Topics:

Training quality and relevance

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Identifier
skpTrainQR
Slug
training-quality-and-relevance
Knowledge Products:

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

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Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
12 Jul 2013
Open
wcmstest4_055650.pdf
The report analyses the relationship between schooling and employers, and distinguishes among different types of skills and the relationship of each type to employment outcomes and employer needs. It examines both the demand and the supply side of the labour market, and provides guidance for further work. The study finds that within the more general problem of quality of education there is also a disconnect between the skills that the education system is currently producing and the ones that the market demands from young people transitioning from secondary school to work, who constitute the largest group of new workers in the region.
Subject Tags:

Youth

Slug
youth
Identifier
319
Regions:

Americas

Region Image

More than just jobs: Workforce development in a skills-based economy

More than just jobs: Workforce development in a skills-based economy

Type:
Document
Content Type:
More than just jobs: Workforce development in a skills-based economy
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Information is gathered from other international organizations that promote skills development and the transition from education and training to work. The Interagency Group on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IAG-TVET) was established in 2009 to share research findings, coordinate joint research endeavours, and improve collaboration among organizations working at the international and national levels.

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Identifier
skpIntOrg
Slug
international-organizations
Topics:

Lifelong learning

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There is a critical need for a greater overall investment in education and training, particularly in developing countries. Education and training investments should be closely linked to economic and employment growth strategies and programmes. Responsibility should be shared between the government (primary responsibility), enterprises, the social partners, and the individual. To make lifelong learning for all a reality, countries will need to make major reforms of their vocational and education and training systems. School-to-work schemes for young people should integrate education with workplace learning. Training systems need to become more flexible and responsive to rapidly changing skill requirements. Reforms should also focus on how learning can be facilitated, not just on training for specific occupational categories.

Identifier
skpPSLLL
Slug
lifelong-learning
Knowledge Products:

Case studies and good practices

Case studies that document good practices and illustrate the benefits and lessons learnt of particular approaches or methods in real practice. 

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Identifier
skpCaseStdy
Slug
case-studies-and-good-practices

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
11 Jul 2013
Open
wcmstest4_055450.pdf
"Job placement" has been the traditional goal of labour and employment policies, but this report argues otherwise. To stay competitive in a globalised economy, governments must also strive to enhance the skills of workers, increase their productivity and provide upward mobility to immigrants and the disadvantaged. This report provides valuable insights into how labour policies can be expanded to meet economic development and social cohesion goals, while also reconciling national and local concerns. Studies from seven OECD countries are presented (Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States), each analysing attempts to expand workforce development policies and bridge the gap between national and local initiatives. Included are various types of government/private sector partnerships in the United States, regional training in France and Australia’s efforts to customise policies to local needs. Based on the country studies, the report then makes specific recommendations and suggestions on how workforce development policies can be expanded and improved.
Subject Tags:

Gender equality

Slug
gender-equality
Identifier
144

Human resources development

Slug
human-resources-development
Identifier
118

Productivity

Slug
productivity
Identifier
188

Skills upgrading

Slug
skills-upgrading
Identifier
657
Regions:

Americas

Region Image
Countries and territories:

Canada: Targeted Initiative for Older Workers

Canada: Targeted Initiative for Older Workers

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Canada: Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Governments

Governments hold a wealth of knowledge on skills development, and are increasingly realizing the value of learning from each others’ experiences. Their policy documents, programme evaluations, and research findings contain their experience and ideas on how to better link skills to employment

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Identifier
skpGov
Slug
governments
Topics:

Career guidance and employment services

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Career guidance and counselling, career education and lifelong development of skills for employability are key for success in learning activities, effective career transitions, livelihood planning, entrepreneurship and in increasing labour market participation. They are instrumental in promoting skills utilization, recognition (RPL), as well as in improving enterprise human resource management.

Career development activities encompass a wide variety of support activities including career information and advice, counselling, work exposure (e.g. job shadowing, work experience periods), assessment, coaching, mentoring, professional networking, advocacy, basic and employability skills training (curricular and non-curricular) and entrepreneurship training. It is often an area which is fragmented across different ministries (e.g. education, TVET, employment, youth) requiring an effort to achieve the necessary coordination to provide adequate support to individuals during learning, employment and unemployment/inactivity periods.
 

Identifier
skpLMIES
Slug
career-guidance-and-employment-services

Older workers

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Access for all to good quality education, vocational training and workplace learning is a fundamental principle of social cohesion and economic growth. Some groups of people may require targeted attention if they are to benefit from education, training and employment opportunities.

This is particularly the case for disadvantaged youth, lower skilled workers, people with disabilities, and people in rural communities. The attractiveness of vocational education and training is enhanced when combined with entrepreneurship training and when public policies encourage utilization of higher skills by business.

Identifier
skpOldwor
Slug
older-workers
Knowledge Products:

National policies and initiatives

National legislation, policies and initiatives on the issue of training and skills development and the world of work. 

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Identifier
skpNatPol
Slug
national-policies-and-initiatives
Publication Date:
11 Jul 2013
Open
wcmstest4_055447.htm
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers helps unemployed workers aged 55 to 64 return to work. The initiative is cost-shared with the provinces and territories and provides employment assistance services, such as resumé writing and counselling, and improves participants’ employability through activities such as skills upgrading and work experience.
Subject Tags:

Career guidance

Slug
career-guidance
Identifier
640

Employability

Slug
employability
Identifier
643

Skills upgrading

Slug
skills-upgrading
Identifier
657
Regions:

Americas

Region Image
Countries and territories:

Skills anticipation. The Transfer of the SENAI Prospective Model

Skills anticipation. The Transfer of the SENAI Prospective Model

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Skills anticipation. The Transfer of the SENAI Prospective Model
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

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

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Identifier
skpILO
Slug
ilo

Other sources

Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.

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Identifier
skpOSource
Slug
other-sources
Topics:

Anticipating and matching skills needs

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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. 

Identifier
skpAFSN
Slug
anticipating-and-matching-skills-needs
Knowledge Products:

Case studies and good practices

Case studies that document good practices and illustrate the benefits and lessons learnt of particular approaches or methods in real practice. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpCaseStdy
Slug
case-studies-and-good-practices

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
06 Jun 2014
Open
wcmstest4_114453.pdf
SENAI has developed a Prospection Model that makes it possible to anticipate the demand for professional competencies and is based on different types of analyses, among them: technological, organizational, emerging occupations, impact, occupational trends, vocational training (VT). In performing studies, SENAI connects with a variety of sources: universities, enterprises, science and technology centres, sectoral experts and others.

The SENAI Prospective Model has proved its validity, quality and relevance, both in Latin America and in other regions. This acknowledgement extends to the vocational training institutions (VTIs) that make up the network coordinated by ILO/Cinterfor, which have repeatedly requested the transfer of this knowledge.

This paper provides a compilation of the results of the process of the programme “Skills anticipation – The Transfer of the SENAI Prospective Model” developed with five agencies: INA/Costa Rica, ILO-CINTERFOR INFOTEP/Dominican Republic, INSAFORP/El Salvador, INTECAP/Guatemala and INADEH/Panama.
Subject Tags:

Human resources development

Slug
human-resources-development
Identifier
118

Skills anticipation

Slug
skills-anticipation
Identifier
677

Vocational training

Slug
vocational-training
Identifier
124
Regions:

Americas

Region Image

Canada: Stratégie emploi jeunesse

Canada: Stratégie emploi jeunesse

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Canada: Stratégie emploi jeunesse
Language:

French

Slug
french
Identifier
skpFrn
Sources:

Governments

Governments hold a wealth of knowledge on skills development, and are increasingly realizing the value of learning from each others’ experiences. Their policy documents, programme evaluations, and research findings contain their experience and ideas on how to better link skills to employment

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Identifier
skpGov
Slug
governments
Topics:

Youth employability

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Globally, nearly 68 million young women and men are looking for and available for work,  and an estimated 123 million young people are working but living in poverty. The number who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) stands at 267 million, a majority of whom are young women. Significantly, young people are three times as likely as adults (25 years and older) to be unemployed.

Skills development is a primary means of enabling young people to make a smooth transition to work. A comprehensive approach is required to integrate young women and men in the labour market, including relevant and quality skills training, labour market information, career guidance and employment services, recognition of prior learning, incorporating entrepreneurship with training and effective skills forecasting. Improved basic education and core work skills are particularly important to enable youth to engage in lifelong learning as well as transition to the labour market. 

Identifier
skpYoEmp
Slug
youth-employability
Knowledge Products:

National policies and initiatives

National legislation, policies and initiatives on the issue of training and skills development and the world of work. 

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Identifier
skpNatPol
Slug
national-policies-and-initiatives
Publication Date:
03 Jul 2013
Open
Canada: Stratégie emploi jeunesse

La Stratégie emploi jeunesse est l’engagement du gouvernement du Canada d'aider les jeunes, en particulier ceux qui font face à des obstacles à l'emploi, à obtenir l'information et à acquérir les compétences, l'expérience de travail et les aptitudes nécessaires pour faire une transition réussie vers le marché du travail.

La Stratégie comprend trois volets de programmes: Connexion compétences, Objectif carrière et Expérience emploi été.

Connexion compétences fournit du financement à des employeurs et à des organismes pour aider des jeunes faisant face à des obstacles à l’emploi à acquérir un éventail de compétences et de connaissances ainsi que l’expérience de travail dont ils ont besoin pour participer au marché du travail.

Objectif carrière fournit du financement à des employeurs et à des organismes pour qu’ils créent des expériences de travail liées à la carrière pour des diplômés d’études postsecondaires.

Emplois d’été Canada (une initiative d’Expérience emploi été) fournit un soutien financier aux employeurs pour qu’ils puissent offrir des emplois d’été aux étudiants.

Subject Tags:

School-to-work transition

Slug
school-to-work-transition
Identifier
652
Regions:

Americas

Region Image
Countries and territories:

Canada: Youth Employment Strategy

Canada: Youth Employment Strategy

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Canada: Youth Employment Strategy
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Governments

Governments hold a wealth of knowledge on skills development, and are increasingly realizing the value of learning from each others’ experiences. Their policy documents, programme evaluations, and research findings contain their experience and ideas on how to better link skills to employment

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpGov
Slug
governments
Topics:

Youth employability

Thumbnail

Globally, nearly 68 million young women and men are looking for and available for work,  and an estimated 123 million young people are working but living in poverty. The number who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) stands at 267 million, a majority of whom are young women. Significantly, young people are three times as likely as adults (25 years and older) to be unemployed.

Skills development is a primary means of enabling young people to make a smooth transition to work. A comprehensive approach is required to integrate young women and men in the labour market, including relevant and quality skills training, labour market information, career guidance and employment services, recognition of prior learning, incorporating entrepreneurship with training and effective skills forecasting. Improved basic education and core work skills are particularly important to enable youth to engage in lifelong learning as well as transition to the labour market. 

Identifier
skpYoEmp
Slug
youth-employability
Knowledge Products:

National policies and initiatives

National legislation, policies and initiatives on the issue of training and skills development and the world of work. 

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Identifier
skpNatPol
Slug
national-policies-and-initiatives
Publication Date:
04 Jul 2013
Open
wcmstest4_054046.htm
The Youth Employment Strategy is the Government of Canada's commitment to help young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, get the information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition into the labour market.

The Strategy is comprised of three program streams: Skills Link, Career Focus, and Summer Work Experience.

Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment, including youth who are single parents, youth with disabilities, young newcomers and youth in rural and remote areas, to develop the skills and gain the experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.

Career Focus provides funding to employers to hire young post-secondary graduates to give them career-related work experience and help them acquire skills to transition into the job market.

Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year.
Subject Tags:

School-to-work transition

Slug
school-to-work-transition
Identifier
652
Regions:

Americas

Region Image
Countries and territories:

Older Workers Recommendation, 1980 (No. 162)

Older Workers Recommendation, 1980 (No. 162)

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Older Workers Recommendation, 1980 (No. 162)
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

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

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpILO
Slug
ilo
Topics:

Older workers

Thumbnail

Access for all to good quality education, vocational training and workplace learning is a fundamental principle of social cohesion and economic growth. Some groups of people may require targeted attention if they are to benefit from education, training and employment opportunities.

This is particularly the case for disadvantaged youth, lower skilled workers, people with disabilities, and people in rural communities. The attractiveness of vocational education and training is enhanced when combined with entrepreneurship training and when public policies encourage utilization of higher skills by business.

Identifier
skpOldwor
Slug
older-workers
Knowledge Products:

International standards

International conventions and recommendations and other international instruments on human resource and skills development. Strategy papers on the practical application of international standards from international organizations covering issues related to training, effective utilization and development of skills, and on linking skills to employment.

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Identifier
skpISSP
Slug
international-standards
Publication Date:
17 Jun 2013
Open
wcmstest4_039426.htm
Recommendation concerning Older Workers Recommends that older workers should, without discrimination on the grounds of their age, enjoy equality of opportunity and treatment in employment as regards, in particular, access to vocational guidance and placement services; access, taking account their personal skills, experience and qualifications, to employment of their choice, vocational training facilities, in particular further training and retraining; paid educational leave, in particular for the purpose of training and trade union education; and social security measures and welfare benefits.
Subject Tags:

Economic and social rights

Slug
economic-and-social-rights
Identifier
264

Employability

Slug
employability
Identifier
643

Skills re-training

Slug
skills-re-training
Identifier
655

Social protection

Slug
social-protection
Identifier
101

Vocational training

Slug
vocational-training
Identifier
124
Regions:

Africa

Region Image

Americas

Region Image

Arab States

Region Image

Recognition of prior learning policy and practice for skills learned at work: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States

Recognition of prior learning policy and practice for skills learned at work: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Recognition of prior learning policy and practice for skills learned at work: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

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

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpILO
Slug
ilo
Topics:

Lifelong learning

Thumbnail

There is a critical need for a greater overall investment in education and training, particularly in developing countries. Education and training investments should be closely linked to economic and employment growth strategies and programmes. Responsibility should be shared between the government (primary responsibility), enterprises, the social partners, and the individual. To make lifelong learning for all a reality, countries will need to make major reforms of their vocational and education and training systems. School-to-work schemes for young people should integrate education with workplace learning. Training systems need to become more flexible and responsive to rapidly changing skill requirements. Reforms should also focus on how learning can be facilitated, not just on training for specific occupational categories.

Identifier
skpPSLLL
Slug
lifelong-learning

Training quality and relevance

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpTrainQR
Slug
training-quality-and-relevance
Knowledge Products:

Case studies and good practices

Case studies that document good practices and illustrate the benefits and lessons learnt of particular approaches or methods in real practice. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpCaseStdy
Slug
case-studies-and-good-practices

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
13 May 2013
Open
wcmstest4_045438.pdf
The paper describes ways and issues of recognizing skills learned in the workplace or through non-formal activities, as opposed to learning at formal educational and training institutions. It examines policies and practices carried out in five English-speaking countries.
Subject Tags:

Employability

Slug
employability
Identifier
643

Lifelong learning

Slug
lifelong-learning
Identifier
400

Qualification frameworks

Slug
qualification-frameworks
Identifier
651

Skills recognition

Slug
skills-recognition
Identifier
656
Regions:

Africa

Region Image

Americas

Region Image
Countries and territories:

Skills development for industrial clusters: A preliminary review

Skills development for industrial clusters: A preliminary review

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Skills development for industrial clusters: A preliminary review
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

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

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpILO
Slug
ilo
Topics:

Other topic

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpOIssue
Slug
other-topic
Knowledge Products:

Case studies and good practices

Case studies that document good practices and illustrate the benefits and lessons learnt of particular approaches or methods in real practice. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpCaseStdy
Slug
case-studies-and-good-practices

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
13 May 2013
Open
wcmstest4_045435.pdf
Employment Working Paper No. 8 The current paper provides a basic conceptual framework for understanding the role of skills in cluster development. The framework was developed by analyzing the skills aspect of a number of well-researched cluster case studies (knitwear in India, surgical instruments in Pakistan, shoes in Brazil, fishing in Kenya and garment in South Africa).

The study highlights the significant role of skills in cluster development, both as a precondition for cluster emergence and as a catalyst for developing a skilled workforce and generating knowledge spillovers. A variety of approaches to skills upgrading are presented and the paper argues that different types of clusters benefit from different skills interventions. Appropriate interventions can range from strengthening the public training system in supplying technical skills, consolidating local apprenticeship, establishing cluster-specific training centres based on public-private partnerships, providing basic and strategic management skills, promoting research and links with academia, and encouraging specific training to promote compliance with international standards (e.g. health and safety, child labour, environment).

The findings of this paper also indicate that the enhancement of technical training needs to be combined with the broader technological improvement of local enterprises, particularly in underperforming clusters. In this regard, the paper stresses that skills development interventions must be implemented hand-in-hand with efforts for product and process upgrading, thus increasing the demand for higher skills (e.g. by promoting linkages with quality markets). The paper argues that cluster development can support economic and social development and that skills development is a key ingredient in achieving those twin objectives.
Subject Tags:

Enterprises

Slug
enterprises
Identifier
175

Productivity

Slug
productivity
Identifier
188

Skills upgrading

Slug
skills-upgrading
Identifier
657

Vocational training

Slug
vocational-training
Identifier
124
Regions:

Africa

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Americas

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Countries and territories:
Subscribe to Americas