Developing the Skills for Scotland Agenda

June 2009

Helen McNamara, National Projects ManagerSkills Development Scotland

Introduction

Skills Development Scotland

Nature and challenge of skills development

Part-time learning & preconditions for transformation

Way forward

Skills Development Scotland

…a catalyst for real and positive change in

Scotland’s skills performance

Skills challenge….

Already well qualified against international comparisons

Attainment levels out perform the rest of UK

Employment growth rates out perform the rest of UK

YET, not enjoyed the same or higher levels of productivity

Economic – skills utilisation

Jobs and productivityProsperity depends on jobs and productivity – and both depend on skillsEmployment – UK is 4th in EU; 8th out of 30 in OECDProductivity – UK is 10th out of EU 15; 15th out of 30 in OECD

France

Greece Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

Spain

Japan Austria

Belgium

Denmark

FinlandGermany

Ireland

Sweden

55

60

65

70

75

80

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

Productivity - GVA per hour worked

%ag

e Em

ploy

men

t Rat

e UKUSA

EU

Scotland’s particular challenge

North East

EasternSouth East

South West

Wales

N. Ireland

North West

YorkshireEast Midlands

West Midlands

London

England

Scotland

UK

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125

Productivity - GVA per hour worked, compared to UK

%ag

e Em

ploy

men

t Rat

e

Futureskills Scotland (2006); BERR (2007) Regional competitiveness & state of the Regions

Productivity challenge….

Demographics

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

UK

England

North East

North West

Yorkshire

East Mids

West Mids

Eastern

London

South East

South West

N. Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Degree

Sub-degree HEUpper Second.

Lower Second.Level 1/0

No quals

Skills challenge….

Low paid low skilled (20% of UK employees, April 2006)

In work poverty (over 50% of poor children live in working households)

Retention & progression in low wage labour market

Supply of skilled workforce is outstripping demand

Social – inequality & fairness

Trends in workforce skills

LowSkilled

HighSkilled

Professor Chris WarhurstScottish Centre for Employment Research,

University of Strathclyde

In 2006 there were 2.5m economically active adults with no qualifications, but 7.4m jobs requiring no qualifications for entry.

By 2020 there are expected to be 585,000 economically active adults with no qualifications but a similar number of jobs requiring no qualifications

Learning System

EmployerIndividual

Inter-connectivity

Preconditions to improve skills utilisation

Smoother access to learning and training systems for employers

Simplified training programmes and learning opportunities

Ensure funding incentives and learning outcomes are clear for all

No wrong door for businesses – signposting

Recognition of differing business needs, size, geography

Focus on sector specific needs to optimise impact

Preconditions to improve inequalities

Establish “rights” – legislate; to train & flexible working

Targeted in-work support….low paid/low skilled

Parity of esteem for all learning & optimise SCQF

Incentivise; greater flexibility in funding systems; (skills account)

Greater use of intermediaries (unions & peer networks)

High quality information & advice; (local labour markets & sectoral career pathways)

Build skills and learning into welfare reforms

Role of part time learning

The growth & development of part time learning in the workplace is fundamental to achieving a step change in Scotland’s skills performance.

Even more important than ever…….

Part time learning & economic downturn

Employers to keep investing in talents of current workforce

New skills today provides a stronger future position

Skills loss today – skills shortages in future

Less costly now, more costly in future

Most vulnerable individuals in the workforce

All workers need to keep updating skills

Curriculum for Excellence (C4E)

Strong track record of partnerships in schools

CfE 4 - Skills for Learning Life and Work

16+ Learning Choices

Classroom and workplace

Innovation

Positive, sustainable destinations

Skills Development Scotland and the National Outcomes

Scottish Government

National Outcomes (relevant to

SDS)

Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors

and responsible citizens

Our public services are high quality,

continually improving, efficient and

responsive to local people’s needs

We are better educated, more skilled and more successful,

renowned for our research and

innovation

We will realise our full economic potential

with more and better employment

opportunities for our people

We have tackled the significant inequalities

in Scottish society

Supporting Socially Deprived Areas through Public Libraries

SDS supporting partners involved in youth information strategy through our universal services:

My Learning Space – profile; e-portfolio; e-prospectus; social networking for 16+ MCMC

My Coach – web; contact centre; f2f; centres

My Learner Account – in the control of the individual

Way forward

How can employers, individuals and the lifelong learning system work together to leverage a greater return from our ca. £5bn investment…..so that Scotland can address inequality, increase productivity and share the wealth of economic growth?