Ireland should back talent and build on the recommendations in the new OECD Skills review with greater industry incentives for Lifelong Learning
Claire McGee, Ibec Head of Education and Innovation Policy, outlines the alignment between Ibec policies and the OECD Skills Report

Ireland should back talent and build on the recommendations in the new OECD Skills review with greater industry incentives for Lifelong Learning

With 9 out of 10 businesses in Ireland facing challenges attracting talent and skills within the workplace, the publication of the OECD Skills Strategy Review this week is a very welcome blueprint for a new era in skills delivery for Ireland.

Ibec welcomes the publication of the OECD Skills Report which highlights the important role of skills policy for Ireland's sustainable and inclusive economic development and preparing for the digital and green transition.

In particular, the OECD present a strong recommendation to unlock the National Training Fund to provide greater direct incentives to business to foster greater participation in lifelong learning within the workplace, which will deliver the step change from Government and business to increased investment and action in reskilling and upskilling. ?This delivers on a key recommendation set out by Ibec in our Future of the National Training Fund paper, and in our engagements with policy makers, to establish a National Training Voucher scheme for business. A National Training Voucher scheme has the potential to boost in-company training and widen participation in upskilling and reskilling to include all businesses and employers by addressing the financial barrier to training.

The OECD report also provides the pathway to act on key initiatives such as life long career guidance, leveraging skills to drive innovation within business, and enhance the governance of the skills and talent ecosystem to improve impact.

The history of Ireland’s positive economic development in ICT, financial services, advanced food manufacturing, and high tech pharmaceutical and medical technologies over the past 40 years highlights how the core skills of a country can rapidly evolve to create new industries, wealth and a brighter future for all its citizens. However, unless we continue to invest in talent, skills and innovation, the foundations on which our economic success has been built will become less resilient, robust and sustainable. Talent will determine our success as a future location for business.

Putting the necessary resources in place to support this ambition sends a clear message that Ireland backs talent and people!?

2023 is the EU Year of Skills, and Ibec is working with members to spotlight the importance of people, culture and talent to ensure Ireland remains a lighthouse for talent, innovation and opportunity.?We want to lead the national conversation on this agenda. Listen to our latest Ibec Responds episode where we discuss the importance of lifelong learning to business, policy priorities for unlocking the National Training Fund and the business case for establishing a National Training Voucher scheme.?

Sue McLoughlin

Empowering confidence & action through soft skills mastery - Founder & CEO of ScenarioWorX. On a mission to transform learning with dynamic, personalized scenarios that build essential skills for success

1 年

?? ?? ?? Most of us went into a career/uni in our teens, and of us the majority quickly settled into a career and climbed the ladder therein, with the results showing that not all but a huge amount of people want to pivot or go through a full career change between 30-40. Equally very astute people realise that taking a drop in salary in their late 40s/50s to pursue reskilling and taking up a role that fills them with joy far outweighs continuing in an unfulfilling but not badly paid career for the next 20/30years! Even those that never want to change career but want to continually elevate themselves and their value, need to be lifelong learners (LLL) So never mind 'Ireland should', 'Ireland MUST' support LLL to grow, develop, pivot so we can be a leading nation who's citizens have every opportunity to experience, happiness and enjoyment, equal & fair pay, challenges and connection in our work.

Vanessa Wainwright

2030 Skills Mission to democratise access for 100 million people to learning and inclusive opportunities through the Skills Passport

1 年

Absolutely agree and we can build on it Fiona Whelan

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