Business at OECD and IOE Previews New Report: “Learning for Better Life and Work”

On 5 December, Business at OECD and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) organised a preview for our new joint Learning for Better Life and Work 2025 Policy Brief. The report includes country notes on Brazil, Egypt, Korea, Mexico and Portugal, which inform updated findings on trends in education and training policies and underlines learning as an economic and social imperative in the evolving labour market context.

The event included opening remarks from our Executive Director Hanni Rosenbaum, the OECD’s Deputy Secretary-General Mary Beth Goodman, and IOE’s Secretary-General Roberto Suárez Santos, as well as a panel moderated by our Deputy Executive Director Nicole Primmer, with representatives from the OECD, UNESCO, and MEDEF, and builds upon the long tradition of Business at OECD and IOE cooperation on employment, education and skills issues.

Our Executive Director Hanni Rosenbaum delivered opening remarks at the event.

The OECD's Deputy Secretqry-General Mary Beth Goodman also joined the discussions to deliver opening remarks.

Our business speakers underlined that governments need to align education systems with evolving labour market needs. Potential opportunities need to be identified whereby employers and business organisations could play a meaningful role shaping policy priorities focused on inclusive and future-ready skills development. Today’s rapid pace of change means that companies are no longer training for incremental developments, but for fundamental transformations which may exceed their capacity. It is essential that there is policy dialogue and partnership efforts that can support the skilling, upskilling and reskilling of citizens today for to better meet the needs of tomorrow.

Business further underlines the value of OECD’s multidisciplinary and evidence based approach and convening to address cross-cutting education and skills policies across sectors and disciplines over the life course. Business at OECD will continue work on these important issues together IOE and OECD to advance effective solutions and quality learning ecosystems for teachers, learners and employers alike.