18/04/14 - Closer collaboration between local employment, training, and economic development agencies to develop the right skills in jobseekers is crucial to support export-oriented growth in Northern Ireland, according to a new OECD report.

Employment and Skills Strategies in Northern Ireland underlines the importance of local-level partnerships to align skills development with employer needs as a way to tackle the high level of economic inactivity and youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

The report’s release follows a meeting of the OECD’s Local Employment and Economic Development (LEED) Directing Committee meeting in Londonderry in November 2013 where representatives from more than 36 countries met to discuss innovations in developing local economies and jobs.

The report examines the capacity of local employment and training organisations to contribute to a long-term strategy that builds economic resilience, quality jobs and productivity. It is part of a new OECD series focusing on the role of employment and training agencies in job creation and productivity in 12 OECD countries or jurisdictions: Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea, Northern Ireland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA. 

For further information, journalists can contact Sylvain Giguère, Head of Division, OECD LEED Programme (+33 603 813134), policy analyst Jonathan Barr or the OECD Media Division.