More than Just Jobs: Workforce Development in a Skills-Based Economy

To stay competitive in a globalized economy, governments must enhance the skills of workers, increase their productivity, and provide upward mobility to immigrants and the disadvantaged. This book provides valuable insights into how labor policies can be expanded to meet economic development and social cohesion goals, while reconciling national and local concerns. Studies from seven OECD countries—Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States—analyze attempts to expand workforce development policies and bridge the gap between national and local initiatives. Included are various types of government/private sector partnerships in the United States, regional training in France, and Australia's efforts to customize policies to local needs. Based on the individual country studies, the book then makes suggestions and specific recommendations on how workforce development policies can be expanded and improved.