The growing prominence of Asian economies and corporations, together with globalization and technological innovation, are leading to long term changes in trade, business and labor markets. A number of Asian economies have reached or are approaching middle income levels. Some Asian countries have pursued policies of industrial upgrading and diversification towards more sophisticated products which add value and increase labor productivity, while others have pursued service-led growth. Countries in Asia need to align skills and training policies with economic and industrial policies to sustain growth, productivity and competitiveness, and address problems of unemployment and underemployment, particularly among the youth. A re-engineered, modernized and innovative skills development system, contributing to employability and sustainable livelihoods is called for.

 

The Asian Development Bank has a significant and potentially increasing engagement with its developing member countries (DMCs) in the skills sector. Asia’s ongoing structural transformation will require changes in the skills set of the region’s workforce. Appropriate investments and forward looking strategies are needed.

 

The Consultative Forum aims to strengthen the link between policy and practice and to enable interactions between researchers, practitioners, developing country representatives and the private sector in the area of skills development for employability. It will review recent trends and prospects for skill development, promising policy developments and innovative approaches to the delivery of skills training that strengthen employment outcomes.

 

The Forum will facilitate identification and analysis of gaps and challenges in the skills sector, particularly the skills mismatch with jobs and consider most appropriate ways forward. Forum participants will deliberate upon policy options for matching skills with jobs and skills development for economic growth; private-public partnerships and industry partnerships to increase the quality and relevance of skills training, work force development strategies; competency based training systems and the role of qualification frameworks, standards and certification in skill training; and skill training in the context of greening economies. The Forum is a key step in the development of a skills framework that can be used for identifying promising strategies for skills development and implementing actions in ADB DMCs on the basis of a shared understanding amongst key stakeholders.