Skills are central to the capacity of countries and people to thrive in a rapidly
changing world. Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic will require countries to co-ordinate
interventions to help recent graduates find jobs, reactivate the skills of displaced
workers and use skills effectively in workplaces. Megatrends such as globalisation,
climate change, technological progress and demographic change will continue to reshape
work and society. Countries should take action now to develop and use more effectively
the skills required for the world of the future and at the same time make their skills
systems more resilient and adaptable in the context of change and uncertainty.
The OECD Skills Strategy provides countries with a strategic approach to assess their
skills challenges and opportunities. The foundation of this approach is the OECD Skills
Strategy framework allowing countries to explore how they can improve i) developing
relevant skills, ii) using skills effectively, and iii) strengthening the governance
of the skills system.
This report applies the OECD Skills Strategy framework to Southeast Asia, providing
an overview of the region’s skills challenges and opportunities in the context of
COVID-19 and megatrends, and identifying good practices for improving skills outcomes.
This report lays the foundation for a more fully elaborated Skills Strategy for Southeast
Asia.
El lza Mohamedou, Head of the OECD Centre for Skills, presented at the Southeast Asia Regional Programme Forum on 20 May 2021, during the breakout session “Reskilling and upskilling for an inclusive and sustainable recovery.”
Human Captial in Southeast Asia - Interview with El lza Mohamedou, Head of the OECD Centre for Skills