Skills are central to the capacity of countries and people to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world. To this end, countries should develop resilient and adaptable skills systems to ensure their populations have the necessary skills to succeed today and in the future.

Creating a skills system that effectively responds to these challenges requires collaboration and co-ordination across government and with stakeholders, and a strategic and holistic perspective on skills policies. In response, an increasing number of countries have been developing skills strategies. These strategies enable countries to adopt a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to assessing skills challenges and opportunities, identifying priority areas for action, and setting strategic policy directions for the medium to long term.

In this study, supported by the European Commission, the OECD analysed skills strategies developed and implemented in the European Union over the past decade. Based on a mapping of 26 skills strategies, desktop research, stakeholder consultations, and expert meetings for selected case studies, nine key lessons are presented for developing and implementing skills strategies. These lessons capture the essential characteristics of successful skills strategies and serve as an informational tool for policymakers to develop new skills strategies or update existing ones.