ILO provided training on skills needs anticipation and matching in Ethiopia
The event aimed to support participants to understand the importance of identifying current and future skill needs as well as labour market imbalances.
1 November 2021
Ababa, Ethiopia (ILO News): The ILO organized a training on skills needs anticipation and matching from 19 to 21 October 2021 within the framework of the Global Programme on Skills and Lifelong Learning (GPSL3) - Ethiopia. The event aimed to help participants to understand the importance of identifying current and future skill needs as well as labour market imbalances in a broader policy framework.
More than 40 participants took part in the training, including representatives from the Regional Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs, Workers' and Employers’ organizations, as well as regional sectoral associations, public employment services, universities, stakeholders from Sidama and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's region.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Mr. Albert Okal, Regional Forced Displacement Skills and Employment Specialist, underlined that the training is an essential platform for knowledge sharing as skills development is critical to increasing employment opportunities by increasing investments and capability of individuals.
During the three-days training, concepts and definitions; drivers of change; myths and realities about skills needs anticipation; basic principles of skills needs anticipation and matching; as well as national and sub-national and sector-wide approaches for skills anticipation needs were covered and discussed, among others relevant topics.
Mr. Jayasimha.N, from Hawassa Industrial Park, HR and Compliance Manger, on his part, said the training was very useful:"Skill mismatch can be found everywhere. Analysing skill mismatch using the labour market information system can make the recruitment process easier. Implementing what we have learnt today may not be easy, but through time it will be a key aspect of the planning process of our organization."
More than 40 participants took part in the training, including representatives from the Regional Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs, Workers' and Employers’ organizations, as well as regional sectoral associations, public employment services, universities, stakeholders from Sidama and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's region.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Mr. Albert Okal, Regional Forced Displacement Skills and Employment Specialist, underlined that the training is an essential platform for knowledge sharing as skills development is critical to increasing employment opportunities by increasing investments and capability of individuals.
During the three-days training, concepts and definitions; drivers of change; myths and realities about skills needs anticipation; basic principles of skills needs anticipation and matching; as well as national and sub-national and sector-wide approaches for skills anticipation needs were covered and discussed, among others relevant topics.
Trainees voices
In his reflection after the training, Mr. Wondwossen Jenere (PhD) from Arbaminch University said:"I am very glad to have participated in this training. It addressed a very important issue facing the country. We need to know and understand the real causes of skills mismatch and identify possible solutions and policy recommendations."Mr. Wondwossen Jenere added: “As an institution, universities are producers of graduates in different fields of study. From this training, we have learnt that we have to encourage our students to assess available labour market information, taking into account the demand side. We have also learnt about the importance of conducting tracer studies to determine the employability of our graduates. I do have a due respect to the ILO for bringing this agenda to all stakeholders and expand it to the regional level. It is motivating us to deeply think about it.”Mr. Jayasimha.N, from Hawassa Industrial Park, HR and Compliance Manger, on his part, said the training was very useful:"Skill mismatch can be found everywhere. Analysing skill mismatch using the labour market information system can make the recruitment process easier. Implementing what we have learnt today may not be easy, but through time it will be a key aspect of the planning process of our organization."
About the GPSL3 - Ethiopia component
The Global Programme on Skills and Lifelong Learning (GPSL3) – Ethiopia component is funded by the Norwegian Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The project focuses on addressing skills mismatches and anticipating future skills demand and tracing the employment results of skills interventions in an effective way. Furthermore, the projects supports Ethiopia’s agenda of social and economic development by strengthening the capacity of the country’s skills development system to become market-driven and more inclusive and to integrate skills policies with national development and sectoral strategies to contribute to export growth, economic diversification, and decent employment creation.