Skills are central to the capacity of countries and people to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world. To this end, countries should develop resilient and adaptable skills systems to ensure their populations have the necessary skills to succeed today and in the future.
In the study "Insights from Skills Strategies in the European Union. Lessons Learnt for Developing and Implementing Effective Skills Policies", supported by the European Commission, the OECD analysed skills strategies developed and implemented in the European Union over the past decade. Based on a mapping of 26 skills strategies, desktop research, stakeholder consultations, and expert meetings for selected case studies, nine key lessons are presented for developing and implementing skills strategies. These lessons capture the essential characteristics of successful skills strategies and serve as an informational tool for policymakers to develop new skills strategies or update existing ones.