Local Strategies for Developing Workforce Skills

In today’s knowledge-based economy, human resources and skills are crucial to long-term growth, prosperity and social inclusion at the local level. A review of practice in OECD countries shows that local stakeholders realise that it is no longer enough just to invest in the formal education and training system, and are turning towards a more diverse range of strategies to increase the supply of skills in their locality. This chapter reviews such strategies in many different parts of the world including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Malaysia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The focus is in particular on actions to better attract and retain talent, integrate disadvantaged groups into the labour force, and upskill current workers. The chapter concludes by identifying the obstacles to a truly joined-up approach to skills at the local level, and ways to overcome these.