Global experts highlight growing need for core skills amid labour market and demographic shifts

BANGKOK (ILO News) – The growing demand for core skills in the context of labour market and demographic transitions in Asia and the Pacific region were discussed during the second episode of ILO’s Regional Skills Webinar series on 4 December 2024.

The webinar, which saw over 120 participants from 30 countries, provided an opportunity to learn about policy initiatives and discuss practical approaches focusing on core skills development as a component of pathways to inclusive employment and skills-driven growth.

Core skills – also called soft skills or transferable skills - are increasingly in demand from employers in the region as industry seeks to raise productivity and global competitiveness. At the same time, equipping individuals with a strong foundation in core skills helps prepare them for the opportunities and uncertainties that they will face throughout their career and can be a key tool in programmes supporting working age adults to re-enter the labour force or transition to a new sector.

During the webinar, experts from the United Kingdom, the Philippines and the ILO highlighted the growing importance of core skills as a response to the changing labour market landscape.

Patrick Daru, Senior Skills and Lifelong Learning Specialist from ILO Headquarters in Geneva shared that the need for enhanced core skills arises not only from changes in job content, but also from the need to navigate changes in the employment relationship – for example, in the platform economy where workers may not have a "traditional" employment relationship. He added that technology is also changing the way individuals learn, i.e. through online, self-paced and micro-credentials. He explained that these changes in how people work, transition and learn throughout their working lives all call for a strong foundation of core skills. ILO research and tools on building core skills in the region were highlighted, including the ILO Core Skills Framework, which includes basic digital skills, skills for green jobs, cognitive and metacognitive skills, and social and emotional skills.

Jayne Norman, Inclusive Skills Development Specialist at People 1st in the United Kingdom highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on skills and employability globally, especially for the young people who experienced reduced access to education or training during the pandemic. This loss of tuition and training, coupled with weakened education-industry linkages and reduced decent work opportunities has contributed to the high numbers of youth who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) globally, as well as critical labour shortages in key sectors. In response, short core skills programmes developed in collaboration with local industries have proved effective tools in supporting young people to access decent work opportunities. She shared examples from the agri-processing sector, and highlighted the importance of resilience and adaptability, digital literacy, social and emotional skills, career readiness, and metacognition or to "learn
to learn".

Finally, Professor Sheryl Lyn Monterola, Senior Technical Consultant at the Centre for Integrated STEM Education (CISTEM) and Former Director, National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP NISMED) in the Philippines, described her experience implementing an innovative programme of core skills development for entry-level workers in the advanced manufacturing sector. A series of modules were introduced to develop ‘"enabling competencies" among technicians and operatives in response to a survey of 223 Philippine-based manufacturing companies, which revealed significant core skills shortfalls in these occupations. The eleven enabling competencies include digital fluency, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, self-management and adaptability. Her project aims to provide training for 11,000 individuals in this sector over a five-year period.

Mary Kent, Skills and Employability Specialist at the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, who moderated the second episode of the webinar, was delighted by the number of participants and the vast representation from across the globe.

“The webinar was attended by individuals from over 30 countries which goes to show the importance of core skills in the Asia and Pacific region and beyond. The episode provided a valuable opportunity to hear from experts on approaches that can be used in different contexts to promote youth employment and labour market transitions. We will continue to hold further webinar episodes in 2025 on key skills development issues relevant to the region,” she said.