This edition of the OECD Skills Outlook analyses the relationship between skills development and outcomes such as employment, productivity, and inclusive growth. It also highlights how skills can enable countries to prosper in the current context of the demographic transition, migration, globalisation, and digitalisation. It provides evidence that the development of 21st-century skills is closely linked to structural factors outside of an individual’s control, including gender, parental education and occupation, immigrant background, age, and geographic context. The Outlook underlines that these same circumstances influence how skills translate into economic opportunity throughout one’s life.
Our Employment, Labour, and Social Affairs Committee Chair Bettina Schaller commented, "Investing in skills is central to investing in economic growth. This report highlights significant socio-demographic disparities in individuals’ skills, which underlines that governments must prioritise investment in skills development across generations and socio-economic groups, and address gender divides. Business at OECD welcomes the OECD’s focus on skills-first hiring as a solution to reduce skills shortages and promote labour market inclusion. Business has been leading the way on skills-based hiring models. We urge governments to incentivise skills-first talent management practices and to promote lifelong learning through agile, evidence-based policy that effectively integrates stakeholder perspectives."
Read the 2025 OECD Skills Outlook here: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/12/oecd-skills-outlook-2025_ac37c7d4.html