The World Employment Report 1998-99. Employability in the Global Economy: How Training Matters

Citation

(1999), "The World Employment Report 1998-99. Employability in the Global Economy: How Training Matters", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 23 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.1999.00323cae.001

The World Employment Report 1998-99. Employability in the Global Economy: How Training Matters

The World Employment Report 1998-99. Employability in the Global Economy: How Training Matters

International Labour Office (ILO)ISBN 92-2 220827-9, 4545 Swiss Francs

Keywords Employment, Skills, Technology change, Unemployment

The increasing pace of globalization and technological change provides both challenges and opportunities at a time when the global employment situation remains grim, and levels of open unemployment and under-employment are still high in most countries. In taking advantage of these opportunities as well as in minimizing the social costs which the transition to a more open economy entails, the level and quality of skills which a nation possesses are becoming critical factors.

The World Employment Report 1998-99 reviews the global employment situation and examines how countries in different circumstances and stages of development can develop the best training strategy, and how flexible and responsive training systems address these far-reaching changes. It presents a close analysis of training systems worldwide, and an examination of training strategies for increasing national competitiveness, improving the efficiency of enterprises and promoting employment growth. The report critically investigates policies and targeted programmes for improving women's employment opportunities and enhancing the skills and employability of informal sector and vulnerable groups of workers (especially at-risk youth, long-term unemployed, older displaced workers and workers with disabilities). It suggests specific policy reforms for making training more efficient and effective.

Given the rapid and continuous pace of change in the demand for new skills, the report concludes that training and lifelong learning need to be given the highest priority. The best results from enhancing the education and skills levels of the workforce are achieved in an overall growth-promoting environment and when training decisions are taken in close consultation between the government, employers and workers.

The World Employment Report 1998-99 is the third in a series of ILO reports which offer an international perspective on current employment issues.

(It can be obtained through major booksellers, or directly from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Tel: +4122 799 7301; Fax: +4122 799 6938; Web: http://www.ilo.org)