Reviews the experiences from seven countries to determine how to achieve better coordination between the efforts of policy makers at the national and local levels to broaden workforce development efforts.
"Today labour market institutions need to become major economic players, not just at national level but also at local level, through interacting with economic development to build competitive and sustainable communities” (p.18). In the United States, the Department of Labor has sponsored the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) "to support the development of a regional, integrated approach to workforce and economic development and education. The ultimate goal of WIRED is to expand employment and advancement opportunities for workers and catalyse the creation of high-skill and high-wage opportunities" (p.78). This report goes on to explore the workforce development policies that have been enacted in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Korea, and concludes with recommendations for improving competitiveness and workforce development in these countries. (Abstractor: Author and Website Staff)