As with the previous reports in the series, this new report relies on the rich source of data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), including direct assessment of literacy and numeracy skills and a host of information on education, income, and other demographic characteristics. But what is unique in…

The Digital Equity Act (DEA), a provision within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), includes a historic federal investment to promote digital equity, literacy, and inclusion. In particular, the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program will award nearly $1.5 billion in federal funds to states to support the…

This report is a response to congressional requests for the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to identify, synthesize, and explain the core components of the workforce skills gap discourse and, to the extent possible, explore and clarify evidence on the existence of skills gaps. The report acknowledges that the skills gap label is often applied…

Across the U.S. economy, large-scale changes in work are occurring because of skills disruption: the constant re-invention of work driven by the vigorous, accelerating demand for new skills in virtually all jobs, and the spread of those skills across industries and around the world. In the past half decade, the average U.S. worker has had to…

The population of the United States is getting older. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), older workers -- which the BLS defines as those who are 55 and older -- made up 22% of the U.S. workforce in 2016, nearly double the 12% recorded in 1995. This increase is largely "fueled by the aging baby-boom generation, a large…

Asia is known as an economic success story but for many people growth has not been inclusive. The increased mechanization of work and other trends are likely to deepen existing social inequalities. Skills can help address these challenges, but a new and broader perspective is needed in skills development policy. This article argues that while…

Paul Ryan has brought together the writings of the most prominent British research into vocational preparation in Britain in comparison to the other advanced economies, primarily within the EEC. The book, originally published in 1991, documents various aspects of inadequacy in British practice at the time, concentrating upon intermediate skills,…

While expanding higher education is an important component of women's agency development, subsequent employment in the labour market remains an impediment to realising gender equality in many developing countries. In Bangladesh, while the rate of women's higher education completion has steadily increased, employment has not kept pace, resulting in…

This report looks into the incidence of skills mismatches in the Republic of Serbia (hereafter referred to as Serbia). In 2017, the European Training Foundation (ETF) initiated a skills mismatch measurement project in the ETF partner countries with two objectives: (1) to identify regular data sources; and (2) to develop and test a series of…

The report looks into the incidence of skills mismatches in the Republic of Moldova (hereafter referred to as Moldova). In 2017, the European Training Foundation (ETF) initiated a mismatch measurement project in selected ETF partner countries with a view to showcasing gaps and shortages in skills utilisation on the labour market including aspects…

This report looks into the incidence of skills mismatches in the Republic of North Macedonia (hereinafter referred to as North Macedonia). In 2017, the European Training Foundation (ETF) initiated a skills mismatch measurement project in the ETF partner countries with two objectives: (1) to identify regular data sources; and (2) to develop and…

In 2017, the European Training Foundation (ETF) began a project on skills mismatch measurement in ETF partner countries. The project objectives were to identify regular data sources, and develop and test indicators that can capture various angles and implications of skills mismatch. In the first phase of the pilot project, four partner countries…

'Employers know that they can hire worldwide now … so, there is limitless supply of people … who can do the job … . they're all qualified, most of them are actually over-qualified … . I'm a wage slave basically, I don't think we have very much social status … . we are replaceable workers … I mean, the employer holds all the cards really. We are…

This report focuses on a critical concern for the European Training Foundation's (ETF's) partner countries and other countries of the around the world. Skills mismatch is recognised as a major challenge by policy makers, practitioners and social partners, as it is often associated with dynamic social and economic contexts such as restructuring…

The global financial and economic crisis has led to alarmingly high unemployment and underemployment in many European Union (EU) countries. Yet, surveys still find that more than one in three employers has problems filling vacancies. The latest European company survey, in spring 2013, found that about 40% of firms across the EU had difficulties…