TOWARDS AN OECD SKILLS STRATEGY The OECD Skills Strategy

In a context of high unemployment following the crisis and increased global competition, ensuring an adequate supply of skills, maximising their use and optimising further development of skills in the workforce is key to boosting employment and economic growth, and to promoting social inclusion. Skills are thus high on the agenda, nationally and internationally. Public spending on education and training already represents around 13 % of total public expenditure in OECD countries. While the need for fiscal consolidation in the wake of the crisis is putting pressure on all elements of public expenditure, including education and training, this is precisely the time when investment in skills is most necessary to boost economic growth and facilitate the (re)integration of individuals into the labour market. Governments must ensure that expenditures on skills formation are efficient and effective and appropriately shared between public and private sectors. Many countries have developed skills strategies to address some or all of these issues from their national perspectives; but their success in implementing those strategies varies widely. To facilitate a cross-government approach and peer-learning on effective skills policies, and to address the global dimensions of the supply and demand for skills, the OECD is preparing a global Skills Strategy. This Skills Strategy seeks to help both OECD countries and non-member countries to improve: (1) responsiveness- ensuring that education/training providers can adapt to changing demand; (2) quality and efficiency in learning provision- ensuring that the right skills are acquired a