Higher-level skills are increasingly demanded by the knowledge-based economy. But with rising mobility and demographic change, it is no longer so simple to invest in a skilled workforce for the future. Actions are needed on a variety of fronts, including attracting and retaining talent, better integrating disadvantaged groups into the labour force, and upgrading the skills of low-paid workers. Much of the responsibility for these actions falls squarely on the shoulders of local policy makers.
Drawing from a wide array of case studies, this book analyses best-practice local strategies for increasing workforce skills. And it also takes a close look at the opportunities and challenges presented by international migration. The in-depth case studies in this report range from Shanghai's "Highland of Talent Strategy" to new "career ladders" which help immigrants escape low-skilled, low-paid employment in New York. National and local-level recommendations on local skills development are provided, for both OECD and non-OECD countries.
Executive Summary PART I. INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW Chapter 1. Local Strategies for Developing Workforce Skills -Why tackle skills at the local level?
-Three aspects of developing a balanced local skills strategy -Two examples of balanced strategies: Shanghai and Michigan -Obstacles to a balanced approach -Conclusions and recommendations -Bibliography Chapter 2. Addressing the Loss of Skills to International Migration -The problems and opportunities posed by migration -Local strategies for the management of migration processes -Conclusions and recommendations -Bibliography PART II. CASE STUDIES Chapter 3. The Shanghai "Highland of Talent" Strategy -Introduction -Skills strategies in Shanghai -Attraction and retention of talent -Upgrading the skills of the current labour force -Integrating hard-to-reach groups into the skills development system -Implementation and allocation of tasks to different stakeholders -Conclusion -Bibliography -Annex 3.A1. Shanghai Data Summary Chapter 4. Michigan Regional Skills Alliances: A Statewide Initiative to Address Local Workforce Needs -Introduction -Profile of Michigan's economy -Development of the Michigan regional skills alliance initiative -Overview of the 13 selected MiRSAs -Governance issues -Outcomes and value added -Conclusions Chapter 5. The Choctaw Tribe of Mississippi: Managing Skills For Workforce Transformation -Introduction -The context: rapid economic change -Designing effective strategies -The implementation framework -Performance management and evaluation tools -Collaboration and regional co-operation -Impact -Conclusions -Bibliography Chapter 6. Addressing Skills Shortfalls in Mackay, Australia -Introduction -The national context -The State of Queensland and the skills plan -The Mackay Region -Strategies for tackling skills shortages and skills strategies in Mackay -Conclusions -Bibliography -Annex 6.A1. The Australian Skills Context: Background Information Chapter 7. From Crane to Torso: Local Skill Strategies in the City Of Malmö -Introduction -The key axes of the strategy -Impacts: the changing local context -Conclusions.
-Bibliography Chapter 8. New York City Career Pathways: Skills Strategies for Low-paid Immigrants -Introduction -Assessing the local context -The focus of the study -Designing effective career pathways -The pathway development process -Future plans -Conclusions -Bibliography -Annex 8.A1. Overview of the Cuny Career Pathway Programmes Glossary