Skills and Employability Branch (SKILLS)
The ILO's work with constituents focuses primarily on three areas: linking training to current labour market needs as well as anticipating and building competencies for the jobs of the future; building quality apprenticeship systems and incorporating core skills into training for young people; and expanding access to employment-related training in rural communities in order to improve livelihoods, reduce poverty, and equip women and men to work in the formal economy.
What's new
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Event
Launch of the 1st Skills Challenge Innovation Call
The first Skills Challenge Innovation Call will recognize and support the development of solutions that aim to address the different forms and dimensions of skills mismatch.
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ILO Global Report
Skills for a greener future: a global view - Full report
Based on 32 country studies
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Publication
Skills and jobs mismatches in low- and middle-income countries
This publication reviews literature and produces new analysis using data on educational mismatch from 60 low- and middle-income countries, assessing the extent to which mismatch is correlated with factors such as productivity, labour force participation, unemployment and informality.
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Discussion Paper
Understanding the non-marketable benefits of apprenticeships in South African enterprises
This discussion paper provides examples of different types of intermediary organisations and examines the different roles they can play to support the effective operation of apprenticeship systems.
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Concept Paper
Lifelong learning: Concepts, issues and actions
Following the landmark report of the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work, many questions have been raised about the concept of lifelong learning (LLL), the issues that surround it and the actions that the ILO can take to address it. This paper introduces readers to these debates and provides a useful introduction to the concept and the challenges that need to be addressed if the vision for LLL of the Global Commission can be achieved.
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A joint ILO/IOE publication
Tools for Quality Apprenticeships: a Guide for Enterprises
This guide aims to show, through actual examples which are used day in and day out by employers in the real world, how enterprises manage the various processes which need to be undertaken to deliver a successful apprenticeship programme.
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Brochure
Skills and Employability
This brochure provides an overview of the main areas of work of the Skills and Employability Branch of the Employment Policy Department.
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Issue Brief 8
Skills policies and systems for a future workforce
This Issue Brief is part of the Future of Work briefs prepared by the ILO. It provides an overview of skills requirements for the future of work and considers how skills development systems might be transformed to meet these needs. The brief also raises questions about the financing of lifelong learning, as well as about the respective responsibilities of governments, enterprises and workers.
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Skills for Employment Policy Briefs
Policy Briefs in the series are authored by the technical specialists of the Skills and Employability Department and aim to present a short overview of particular areas related to skills development, policies and systems, and training.
Recent publications
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Working Paper
Does work-based learning facilitate transitions to decent work?
This paper examines the different forms of work-based learning, and takes stock of available data on the labour market impact such schemes where they exist. It finds evidence of positive impacts of formal structured work-based learning, and argues that future efforts should encourage engagement with private sector firms in creating and expanding such structured opportunities for young people.
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Skill needs anticipation
Systems and approaches - Analysis of stakeholder survey on skill needs assessment and anticipation
This publication is joint publication of the ILO, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the OECD.
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Apprenticeships
A step-by-step guide to promote quality apprenticeships
This publication was developed as part of the project entitled "EC-ILO action on youth employment policies: Enhancing capabilities of practitioners to design, implement and monitor youth employment policies - under the Council Recommendation on establishing a Youth Guarantee".