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This publication has been prepared by the interagency technical vocational education and training (TVET) group on skill mismatch in digitised labour markets, to support experts and policy-makers who wish to engage in discussion on the potential of web-based big data for skills policy. It outlines how such data can be used to mitigate labour market challenges, reduce skills mismatches and strengthen the links between the labour market and education and training.

The focus is on overcoming conceptual and practical challenges and limitations, system development and using big data for skills policy in practice. Examples of big data initiatives from around the globe illustrate its potential and provide insight into how big data are already supporting policy-makers in shaping the futures of work and education.

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In 2010 and 2012 the European Training Foundation (ETF) launched the first two rounds of the Torino Process, in which most of its partner countries participated. In May 2013 the ETF organised a conference entitled ‘The Torino Process: Moving skills forward’, which was attended by some 200 policy makers, experts and practitioners of vocational education and training (VET) from ETF partner countries, the European Union (EU) and international organisations. Both in the Declaration of this conference (see Annex 2) and in the external evaluation covering both rounds of the Torino Process, the relevance of this exercise is acknowledged by the partner countries and the international community. The Torino Process is perceived as a useful tool for policy analysis and the identification of priorities and challenges in the sector, and as an important step on the road towards evidence-based policy making in the partner countries. The Torino Process has been inspired by policy assessment processes at EU level, notably the Copenhagen Process in VET and the 2010 Bruges Communique. Indeed, the Torino Process in partner countries complements the review of progress towards the common EU VET policies, objectives and tools under the Bruges Communique. This complementarity facilitates mutual learning between the EU and its partner countries. Following a similar biennial format as the Bruges Process, the Torino Process is now entering its third edition in 2014.

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The [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 pandemic has led to deep shocks and scars to the economy and societies throughout the world. To mitigate and address these shocks and scars, as well as the wider impacts of the pandemic, many countries put in place recovery plans that may now be threatened by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the associated rises in energy prices and cost of living, and its consequences on the global economy. At the same time, countries are also mobilising to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and widespread environmental degradation, working to adjust to the diffusion of new digital technologies (including generative artificial intelligence systems), and putting in place strategies to reduce the economic and societal effects related to increased poverty and shares of marginalised population.

Overall, countries look increasingly vulnerable, with risks of profound economic and societal upheavals. In this context, skills development and lifelong learning play a fundamental role, now more than ever before. Skills are essential to ensure that individuals and societies are able to navigate and integrate into a rapidly changing world of work. Learning from the past three years is critical to strengthen the resilience of lifelong learning systems to future and ongoing shocks.

This brief focuses on the resilience of skill systems, which is key to promote resilient labour markets and societies. It reviews what policy responses can promote labour market integration and skills development, with a view to build resilient systems. It draws lessons from recent episodes of economic downturn, for example the COVID-19 pandemic - an economic crisis for which both shock and recovery are currently observable - as well as the cost-of-living crisis, that many countries have recently experienced as a consequence of rising prices, in particular for energy.

The brief first summarises evidence on the effect of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis on labour markets and skills over 2020-2023, flagging their most important lessons. It then proceeds to describe a set of policies that have recently been implemented around the world to foster skill resilient systems in the face of external shocks - such as the pandemic crisis or the energy crisis, by classifying them in policies to enhance absorption, adaptation, and anticipation.

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This paper provides a contemporary analysis of human resource development (HRD) in Albania. The main sections of the paper examine: (1) the political and socioeconomic background; and (2) key policy issues and strategies in employment, education and training, and social inclusion. Show less

The two key constraints on employment in the [Arab Mediterranean countries] AMCs are (i) insufficient labour demand, i.e. a lack of job creation and (ii) skills mismatch as a result of failures in the education system, i.e. employability. This report focuses on the second issue and in particular on the potential of [active labour market programmes] ALMPs to increase youth employability. It provides an overview of ALMPs in eight AMCs and examines constraints and opportunities for their development and implementation. The report is divided into four sections. The first section presents an initial overview of AMCs' labour markets, providing a summary of the economic and demographic context and a brief analysis of the main labour market trends and challenges.

The second section describes ALMPs that are specifically targeted at young people. ALMPs are classified into five measures: intermediation services, training programmes, employment incentive programmes, public works programmes and support for entrepreneurship. A short general description of each measure is provided. This is followed by an analysis of ALMPs that are currently implemented in AMCs. Some initiatives that seem to have had positive results are highlighted. The third section analyses the main institutional and operational constraints that affect the quality of ALMPs. The fourth and final section suggests some policy recommendations to improve the effectiveness and delivery of ALMPs as a response to youth labour market challenges.

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This report outlines the three-year program of the European Training Foundation (ETF). The European Union (EU) policies are aimed at increasing employability and employment rates, the success of enterprises and ultimately, the competitive edge in world markets. The ETF is the centre of expertise and is committed to a country specific approach where the problems and priorities of each are addressed in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organisations, and other donor agencies. The ETF is central to the development and maintenance of a number of networks. These networks include the National Observatories, the Advisory Forum, the National Training Institutions, distance learning centres, and the business schools and management training. The services of the ETF include project management and design, analysis and articulation of need, provision of information, contributing to policy development, acting as a catalyst for other resources, and technical assistance to the European Commission for two annual conventions (Tempus Phare and Tempus Tacis). Show less

While smart specialisation is primarily about the economics of specialisation, vocational education and training (VET) and skills are the engine that drive smart specialisation. The [European Training Foundation] ETF's methodological approach on skills for smart specialisation anchors the implementation of smart specialisation strategies in a realistic supply of relevant skills - in particular at medium and high levels. It opens up discussions about skilling, upskilling, reskilling and career development support in the context of the twin digital and green transitions. It offers a concrete tool to connect vocational education and training through productivity-enhancing skills to the drive for innovation, growth and competitiveness. The ETF's skills for smart specialisation approach builds pathways for focused VET excellence to flexibly supply relevant human capital and workforce retraining for the private sector for higher productivity and quality jobs.

To develop a valid and usable toolkit, the methodology, tools and approaches have been tested to ensure their appropriateness to the requirements of implementing smart specialisation strategies. The testing was first implemented in 2019 in Montenegro in the tourism and energy sectors, which were identified as priorities in the national smart specialisation strategy. In 2020, the testing was expanded to the Republic of Moldova, where the preliminary mapping had identified energy (focus on renewable energy) and food processing as potential priorities for smart specialisation. Finally, in 2021–2022, the methodology was enriched and applied at regional level in Ukraine, in two pilot regions: Rivne and Kharkiv. The lessons learnt are summarised in this toolkit, which contains more than a set of research methods - it also embraces the theoretical and contextual perspectives underlying the analysis, along with a justification for using the chosen approach and tools, and comments from partners.

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The Torino Process was launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2010 and is a biannual participatory analytical review of the status and progress of vocational education and training (VET) in the ETF partner countries. The aims are to acquire current knowledge about policies and their outcomes in a country, and to strengthen ownership, participation and the evidence base of policy formation.

This regional report analyses key trends for further [vocational education and training] VET system development in four countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These countries are covered by the [European Union’s] EU’s Development Cooperation Instrument. The document draws on the 2012 Torino Process reports from each country. Each of the four countries that participated in the 2012 Torino Process underwent an [European Training Foundation] ETF-led assessment using the five building blocks of the analytical framework: the vision for VET; its efficiency in terms of addressing demographic, economic and labour market needs; how VET addresses social demands, including social inclusion; the quality and efficiency of initial and continuing VET delivery; and how initial and continuing VET systems are financed and governed, including their institutional capacities for change.

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This study is one of a series of background studies on the employment and labour market situation in Central and Eastern European countries seeking accession to the European Union. The studies are indexed from TD/INT 61.293 to TD/INT 61.298.

The study is part of the preparations by Bulgaria for accession to the European Union and was prepared according to the guidelines provided by The Employment and Social Affairs Directorate-General (DG) of the European Commission, the European Training Foundation and European Union experts. Its major objective is to provide a description of the employment and labour market in Bulgaria as a basis for the employment policy reviews prepared by The Employment and Social Affairs DG of the European Commission on the accession countries. The study draws on official data sources to describe the current circumstances in Bulgaria in relation to the employment situation, the employment policy institutions, employment policy delivery mechanisms and the relationship between vocational education and the labour market. The study identifies key issues which emerge from the analysis and may be addressed prior to accession. Several tables containing statistical data are included in support of the text. Show less

The report describes the vision for the national [vocational education and training] VET system and concepts behind the strategic and policy documents currently in place. It details a range of measures and potential context and intervention factors that are considered to influence the effectiveness and efficiency of the system in addressing economic and labour market demands, as well as demographic, social and inclusion demands. It explains the internal efficiency of the VET system and the potential benefits of better governance and policy practices. Each section of the report finishes with a sub-section on policy action and assessment of progress in the period since 2010. The annexes to this report include more detailed explanation of some parts of the report and statistical data related to some of the indicators within each particular section.

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