Enabling the workforce of the future: the role of learning and development

Understanding and meeting the future skills needs of Irish industry will be central to economic and social stability and progress over the coming decades. The current environment presents a unique opportunity for learning and development (L&D) to play a leadership role by spearheading their organisation's strategic response to the changing future of work. A key challenge for L&D leaders in this regard is managing the tension between meeting current skills requirements and enabling the workforce of the future. This report seeks to support L&D leaders and professionals in meeting these challenges by providing evidence-based guidance on what is happening and how they can respond. The report begins with a summary review of the literature on the topic of the changing future of work that is most relevant to L&D. We then outline the method underpinning our empirical research, followed by a presentation of our key findings. We conclude with some recommendations for how L&D can fulfil its potential to play a leadership role in their organisations' strategic response to the changing future of work.

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