OECD-ICMPD hold a joint conference on Skills Mobility Partnerships

The conference highlighted the urgent need for collaborative solutions as countries navigate varying demographic, technological and socio-economic dynamics, with some destination countries facing severe labour deficits while origin countries grapple with high unemployment rates. Labour mobility initiatives were discussed as a pivotal strategy to address these challenges, enabling partners to bridge labour gaps and propel their development agendas forward effectively. 

The event showed recent developments regarding labour mobility initiatives and highlighted the complex realities of different countries and stakeholders. Participants emphasised the vital components for achieving successful implementation of skills mobility partnerships, such as streamlining bureaucratic processes, enhancing qualification recognition procedures, ensuring proper skills matching as well as fostering improved coordination among all stakeholders involved in labour mobility. In addition, the transformative potential of private sector investment and involvement regarding skills development was highlighted. 

Recommendations drawn from the event include the necessity for enhanced evaluation methodologies to accurately measure the long-term and societal impacts of SMP initiatives. Additionally, there was a resounding call to bolster training and education systems in the countries of origin. This would enable these nations to leverage their demographic dividend, meet the evolving needs of both national and international job markets, and ultimately contribute to the shared objective of future proofing labour markets.