Skills and Employability Department (EMP/SKILLS)
ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations

Calendar of events of the department

Contact us

  1. Skills and Employability Department (EMP/SKILLS)
    International Labour Office 4 Route des Morillons
    Geneva 22
    CH-1211
    Switzerland
    Tel:+41.22.799.7512
    Fax:+41.22.799.6310

Skills and Employability Department (EMP/SKILLS)

Governments, employers’ associations and trade unions around the world are working to improve the quality and relevance of training and employment services in order to improve the employability of workers and the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises.

The Skills and Employability Department helps member States and the social partners apply the policy recommendations arrived at through tripartite consultations on skills development within the Decent Work agenda (see Key Resources) to their circumstances and priorities. Comparative research, policy guidelines and technical assistance aim to help constituents:

  • 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;
  • 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 employment while at the same time contributing to poverty reduction; and
  • improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, labour exchange services, delivery of active labour market programmes, and rapid response services in the aftermath of crises.
Whether dealing with the present global economic turmoil or addressing long-term inequality and poverty, promoting skills development furthers the ILO’s Global Employment Agenda for decent and productive work for all.

What's new

  1. ILO contribution to the G20 Task Force on Employment

  2. This year’s theme is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”.

  3. This resource guide will help educators and trainers equip policymakers, legislators, social partners, individuals with disabilities and other key individuals to achieve a positive legislative impact.

  4. ILC Special Session on the ILO Business and Disability Network

  5. 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.

  6. This volume examines the experiences of 21 developed and developing countries in adjusting their training provision to meet the new demands of a greener economy.

Key resources

  1. A Skilled Workforce for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth
    22 February 2011

    A G20 Training Strategy

  2. R195 Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004
    17 June 2004

    Recommendation concerning Human Resources Development: Education, Training and Lifelong Learning

  3. C159 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983
    20 June 1983

    Convention concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons)
    (Note: Date of coming into force: 06/20/1985.)

  4. C88 Employment Service Convention, 1948
    09 July 1948

    Convention concerning the Organisation of the Employment Service
    (Note: Date of coming into force: 08/10/1950.)

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