We are getting very good at doing skills analyses and identifying skills needed for progression in jobs and for new skill requirement due, for example to changing technologies. We have not been so good, however, at helping people link opportunities for training and other forms of learning. That is one of the key ideas behind a new project, Careers Pathways, supported by the Erasmus+ programme in which Pontydysgu Spain is a partner. This morning I wrote the flyer for the project and when a nice glossy version appears I will post it here for you to download. In the meantime here is the text version.
Career Pathways
Career Pathways is a three-year project funded by the Erasmus+ programme,
The changing Labour Market
New, digital technologies, including AI, automation and new forms of employment are changing the world of work. The shift towards more sustainable and green economies is reshaping labour market demand and supply. The twin digital and green transitions and the disruptions induced by COVID-19 are bringing about significant structural changes in labour markets and are changing the skills requirements of many jobs. This increases the importance of building skills and new career pathways throughout life to bridge skills gaps, support labour market transitions and foster social inclusion.
Labour Market intelligence
An increasing number of workers are in atypical forms of work, including part-time work, temporary, casual and seasonal work, platform work and self-employment. Coupled with an increasing number of labour market transitions throughout one’s working life, this means that an increasing share of individuals are at risk of not receiving sufficient support for training from an employer. Such a situation requires access to labour market intelligence for both those unemployed and those whose jobs are at risk due to AI, automation, and the changing labour market. This includes intelligence on new skills and job needs and access to training. New skills pathways can support those seeking skilled work.
Education and training
Education and training providers need timely information on future demand. Robust and actionable labour market and skills intelligence offers a compass for developing effective skills and productivity policies. A key challenge is how best to make the most of evolving skills intelligence in a rapidly changing world and how such intelligence can be accessed. Historical trends alone no longer provide sufficient evidence for strategic public investment decisions.
The Career Pathways project
The Career Pathways project will develop and test new tools, providing access to the labour market and skills intelligence to job seekers, those looking for training, education and training providers, employers and for regional policymakers.
The project is developing career pathways to future employment, working together with education and training organisations, employers and careers and employment professionals.
Project partners
The project is coordinated by TecMinho from Portugal and the project partners are ACP and IDEC, Greece, The University of the Basque Country and Pontydsgu, Spain and Forave Vocational/Technical School, Portugal.
If you are interested in working with us on this project, just email me.
