Quality Apprenticeships for the Future of Work
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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This discussion has been organized by the ILO with support from partner organizations such as the European Commission, the OECD, UNESCO and the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN). To read the full Guidance Note for this discussion, kindly scroll below.
Global youth unemployment continues to be a major development issue, with nearly 70.9 million young people unemployed in 2017. In addition, youth are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Responding to the problem of youth unemployment is an issue of great concern and requires bringing to the forefront modern skills and employment policies that promote the creation of decent jobs as well as address skills mismatch.
Widespread youth unemployment represents a social paradox: while many youth are looking for work, many employers cannot find workers with the skills they need. This type of skills mismatch is being accentuated significantly by the transformational changes buffeting the world of work - technological innovation, shifts in the organization of work through platform-based economies. Traditional school-based vocational education and training systems face growing challenges to be more flexible and responsive in ensuring that young people are better equipped with the skills to take on new jobs today and in the future. Against this background, quality apprenticeships and other work-based learning programmes are critical to meeting the challenge of the future world of work.
The E-Discussion aims to examine the role of quality apprenticeships, and other work-based learning programmes, as part of the solution to the challenge of youth unemployment and preparing the workforce for the fast changing skills demands of the labour market.
Among the questions to be discussed over the coming two weeks are:
1. How do apprenticeships benefit various stakeholders such as employers, trade unions, governments and apprentices? Are there any institutions in your country that collect and disseminate evidence about the benefits of apprenticeships?
2. In view of rapid changes in labour market contributing to an increase in skills mismatches, how important is the role of apprenticeships in aligning skills supply to the future of work?
3. In your country, is there a clear, common understanding of the differences between apprenticeships, internships, traineeships, learnerships and other forms of work-based learning?
4. Despite widely accepted benefits, why do many countries have difficulties in establishing, scaling up and sustaining high- quality apprenticeships? What specific challenges are faced in implementing and expanding apprenticeships in your country?
5. What innovations are needed to make apprenticeships more attractive for youth and employers respectively, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?
6. What strategies could be used to ensure better gender equality and disability inclusion in apprenticeships?
Countries and territories:
