Skills and the Future of Work

Skill mismatches and shortages remain a significant challenge across OECD countries. These imbalances can constrain productivity and economic growth, while also reducing wages and job satisfaction for affected workers. To design effective policies that address these issues, countries need accurate, forward looking skills intelligence. This webinar marks the launch of a new OECD report on Skills Assessment and Anticipation (SAA), produced with the financial assistance of the European Union and developed in cooperation with the European Commission. The report reviews 17 national SAA exercises from OECD countries and international best practices, identifying the key features that underpin robust SAA systems. It also offers practical guidance for policymakers, including approaches to strengthen implementation and support the use of SAA results in higher education. The event will spotlight SAA exercises and methodologies, present key findings from the report, and feature discussions with international experts and practitioners. Join us to explore good practices in SAA and engage with international experts on developing and implementing effective SAA systems.

This webinar is in collaboration the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and their International Forum on Skills Intelligence (IFSI) webinar series, you can register here for the mailing list. It is also part of the Skills and the Future of Work Webinar series. 

In a rapidly evolving global skills landscape, adult learners often face fragmented pathways that hinder their ability to engage in continuous, meaningful upskilling. Too often, training is reactive and focused on basic compliance rather than equipping workers with transferable skills for future roles. To meet the demands of fast-moving labour markets, policy must shift from fragmented, short-term solutions to comprehensive strategies that integrate funding, employer engagement and flexible delivery models. Join us for this international webinar where we explore strategies, systems, and partnerships that enable seamless lifelong learning journeys. Experts from around the world will share innovative models and real-world practices that empower adult learners to build personalised, stackable, and cohesive learning experiences. Whether you are a policy maker, training provider, employer, or educator, this event will provide insights on how to support learners’ upskilling and build fluid learning journeys.

Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) are gaining renewed momentum as a policy tool to empower individuals to develop the skills they need for the future of work. This webinar marks the launch of a new OECD report, produced with the financial assistance of the European Union, and developed in cooperation with the European Commission, which provides practical guidance on how to design and implement effective ILAs. The report draws on insights from six countries - Croatia, Czechia, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Singapore. The discussion will explore key questions, such as how to ensure the relevance and quality of ILA-funded training, and how to broaden access and reach the individuals who need support the most. Join us to hear the OECD’s latest findings and engage with international experts on how ILAs can help place individuals at the centre of lifelong learning.

Skills-first approaches prioritise demonstrated skills over formal qualifications and experience in hiring, training, and workforce development, positioning skills as the core currency for articulating, developing, and recognising capabilities throughout the labour market. Co-developed by the OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs and the Centre for Skills-First Practices at the Singapore University of Social Sciences-Institute for Adult Learning (SUSS-IAL), the Skills-First Readiness and Adoption Index is the first structured, data-driven framework to measure and track the readiness and adoption of skills-first practices internationally. Join us to hear more about the index and how countries are advancing the skills-first agenda!

Skill shortages and skill gaps in the healthcare sector are costly and contribute to significant unmet medical care needs. In many countries, there are not enough health and care workers, and many of the existing health and care workers do not have the skills needed to carry out the tasks and responsibility required by the healthcare system. The limited offer of flexible career and training pathways are preventing many adults from upskilling and reskilling to enter the healthcare workforce. This webinar provides an overview of practices to increase flexibility in career and training pathways in a selection of OECD countries and low- and middle-income countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa. National experts will share their experiences in policy design and implementation to expand the healthcare workforce and facilitate entry into the sector for informal workers and non-traditional candidates.

Public administrations are major employers in OECD countries and many of them face staff shortages, high workloads, and fiscal pressures. AI adoption, in this context, carries potential for improving public sector efficiency and service quality but it also entails risks. To ensure a trustworthy and effective use of AI, preparing the workforce is as important as deploying technology. The webinar will feature speakers from government, research, and practice, and give insights on the state of play in OECD public administrations - focusing on the skills and workforce implications of AI adoption, and practical approaches toward continuous learning and innovation on AI. 

This webinar is organised in the context of a project funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the OECD, in cooperation with the European Commission.