Workforce development examines how training and education can provide labour markets with the skills and knowledge required to advance economies, communities and individuals. Workforce development can be found in two forms: (1) place-based strategies that attempt to address the needs of people living in a particular area; or (2) sector-based strategies that focus on matching workers' skills to the needs of an industry already present in a region. Staff development within individual businesses is one aspect of these forms; another is professional development that spans occupational groups. Policy, innovation and technological changes are influential to workforce development making these elements of particular interest to research in this area. Also of interest are the job and skill needs of future generations in response to developing workforces.