ILOJapan Regional Workshop Sectoral Approach to Skills for

ILO/Japan Regional Workshop Sectoral Approach to Skills for Green Jobs 24 -25 January 2017, Bangkok, Thailand Sectoral Approach to Skills Development Akiko Sakamoto ILO -Bangkok

Why now sectoral approach? Ø A relatively new approach to many developing countries in Asia, why? ü Skills and training have traditionally been seen as the work of government and has been centrally planned ü Business and competitive strategy based on low price, labour-intensive approach required fewer high skills – skills were not part of competitive strategy Ø Sectoral approach is highlighted as one of 10 key building blocks of the G 20 Training Strategy (2011)

What is a sectoral approach to skills development? Ø Promotes skills development from the point of view of a specific industrial and occupational sector ü Articulating skills and training needs ü Providing inputs to relevant competency standards, or training curriculum ü Organizing, delivering and participating in training programs, according to their priorities; assessing training outcomes Ø Responds to sector specific challenges with sector specific skills solutions; drawing on sector knowledge and resources Ø Positions skills as a key strategy for moving up and taking the sector to a next level

Why is a sectoral approach to skills development being promoted? ü Limitation of centralized approaches to skills development ü Increase in skills mismatch – unable to fill vacancies while workers struggle to find jobs ü Practical means for linking training and work –increasing impact of skills on employment and productivity ü A means of greater industry engagement in skills development ü Relevant approach as the sector attempts to move up the value chain and compete on quality market

Skills as a key strategy for sector development Regulations Employers Business Strategy Skills Acquisition Skills Utilization The productive System Skills Supply Bodies Skills Supply Professional Bodies Institutional Support Worker Reps/Unions Policy Makers Incentives The Sectoral Stakeholder Platform Public Policy Source: Sung and Ashton, 2014, p 173

What does a sectoral approach deliver? Ø International experience shows that sectoral approaches can provide: – Analysis of business environment affecting quantitative or qualitative skills needs – Forecasting skills needs – Matching training provision to meet specific skills needs – Facilitating skills utilization and enabling productive transformation (i. e. moving up value-chains); – Preparation of occupational or qualification standards – Policy advice on lifelong learning or VET – Fostering cooperation between educational providers and employers – Provision of training for the work force – Funding of training.

Variations in sectoral approaches Ø Sectoral approaches to skills development can take different forms and the roles and structures vary considerably § Roles and functions § Broad or narrow coverage § Ranging from advisory, skills needs assessment, standards development and training delivery to certification, job placement, and coordination § Proactive bodies promoting strategic sector development plans § Institutional arrangements § Many countries opt to establish a formal structure such as sector skill councils (industry skills councils), although there are only a few in the region § Members § Funding

How are sectoral approaches evolving? • Increase in formalized, independent, sector-specific bodies (e. g. industry skills councils, sector skills councils, industry training bodies) • Permanent and independent bodies have a well-established role in some countries (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Netherlands, Brazil and South Africa) • 22 of 28 EU countries have adopted a sectoral approach • Similar arrangements in Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and Singapore

Challenges and Enabling factors • Establishing formal structures is not a goal in itself • The experience in Bangladesh and India suggests considerable success in increasing industry engagement in skills, but face a number of challenge including sustainability • Formalized approach seems to work when there is: q Immediate skills needs that require the sector’s collective response q Policy level support for sector-based skills actions q Adequate funding (but with a future financial plan) q Technical support (especially for the start-up phase) q Leadership and strong sustained commitment q Time

Implications for skills and green jobs • Sector skills approach responds to: • How a sector sees the challenges, priorities and solutions of promoting environmental sustainability • Likely impact on jobs (quantitative and qualitative) • And collectively acting in identifying, articulating and responding to new and different skills requirements: o Skills needs assessment o Development of competency standards and training o Training of trainers o Training delivery and assessment o Coordination with training agency and institutions o Negotiation and promotion of sector green strategy

Thank you For further information please contact: Akiko Sakamoto Senior Specialist on Skills & Employability ILO Decent Work Team Bangkok Tel No. +66 2 2881725 E mail address: sakamoto@ilo. org