Filling the skills gap

It seems absurd that there would be a skills shortage and high unemployment at the same time. The fact is, employers need to hire people that have the right skills for the job.

Sounds easy enough, but how would someone make the first step? To make a decision, one must have access to research material. Correct and up-to-date labour market information needs to be readily available – through schools, online, and in libraries.

Once someone has made the decision to pursue training in a certain field, they need to ensure that they have the funding to support it. Funding required is not only for tuition, but it may also be for tools, books, materials, certification exams, and living expenses. This is often the main barrier for some when deciding to pursue the right training and education or to enter the workforce immediately with little to no skills or training. The number of government grants, scholarships, and funding assistance available has increased in the past few years, as many organizations and governments work together to minimize these barriers in order to support skills training.

These organizations and governments can also be a resource when it comes to finding the right educational institutions and companies, whether it’s attending school or completing an apprenticeship.

When youth, older workers, immigrants, persons with disabilities, and everyone who is looking for a career has the tools and support they need to make informed decisions about their future, they can get the education and experience they need to enter the workforce in a rewarding career.

WorldSkills can help. We have our finger on the latest industry information in the 67 Member countries and regions where we operate. Reaching out to your local WorldSkills organization is a great first step towards finding your path to a rewarding and fulfilling future. For a full list of our Member organizations please visit the WorldSkills website.