Equipping workers with the right skills is essential to a thriving labour market. Labour markets are currently undergoing major shifts, including the transition to a net-zero economy and the diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces. These megatrends impact both current and future skill demands. While initial education plays an important role, upskilling and reskilling initiatives for the existing adult workforce are essential to ensuring both workers and businesses are ready for the changing world of work.
Particular groups of workers are especially vulnerable and will require extra support in the face of the green and AI transitions. Low-skilled workers and those in roles with a high risk of job displacement – either due to the impacts of the green transition or the rise of AI – are often the least likely to access training. Government initiatives are key to ensuring training is relevant, flexible and inclusive.
Most existing research focuses on the demand for skills, with little evidence on the supply side. In particular, limited evidence exists on whether training programmes equip workers with the skills needed for the green and AI transitions. This report aims to fill this gap in understanding using two new policy questionnaires distributed to OECD countries, which shed light on how countries are investing in skills development for these transitions, in particular, the extent to which governments use incentives for workers and jobseekers, employers and adult learning providers, or provide publicly funded training programmes. Additionally, the report provides new quantitative evidence on the supply of green- or AI-related training from a text analysis of training catalogues in four countries (i.e. Australia, Germany, Singapore and the United States).
Chapter 1 provides an introduction; Chapter 2 describes data and methodology, and the extent to which current training is accessible and flexible; Chapter 3 analyses policies/strategies and training supply for the green transition; Chapter 4 analyses policies/strategies and training supply for the adoption of AI in workplaces.