OECD Reviews on Local Job Creation Engaging Employers and Developing Skills at the Local Level in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Executive Summary
Assessment and Recommendations
	Working closer with employers for better local labour market outcomes
		Apprenticeship starts in Northern Ireland have improved steadily but there is greater room for female participation
		Northern Ireland can strengthen local networks among employers…
		...and explore more innovative ways to support SMEs or “harder to reach” employers
		Employer education programmes can raise awareness of the value of training
	Better using skills in the workplace
		Enhance management and leadership training
		A focus on skills utilisation approaches can improve the quality of jobs locally
		Northern Ireland should aim to foster local skills ecosystems
	Leveraging regional intelligence to inform policy development
		Understanding how local labour market needs are evolving can inform responsive policies
		Examine the role of local councils in better gearing training to demand
	The state of training and programme implementation
		Strengthen career guidance and pathways for young people
		Ensure a flexible training system with a focus on quality
		Setting clear targets and goals to improve apprenticeship completion effectiveness
Chapter 1.  Recent economic and labour market trends in Northern Ireland
	Set the context
		Key economic trends
		Labour market trends
		Education and training
	Key government departments implementing employment and skills policies
		Recent government reforms and policy initiatives
		Northern Ireland strategy on apprenticeship
		Apprenticeship participation rates
	Conclusions
	References
Chapter 2.  Understanding firm dynamics and skills in Northern Ireland
	The profile of Northern Irish firms
	The incidence and typology of vacancies
	Training provision
	Results from the OECD Survey of Northern Ireland firms
		Business demography
		Apprenticeships and skills
		Firms offering apprenticeships
		Employer reaction to the Apprenticeship Levy scheme
	Conclusions
	References
Chapter 3.  Implementing employer engagement strategies in Northern Ireland
	Understanding how employers are engaging with government on skills needs
		Formal governance bodies to engage and consult employers on skills
	Better gearing the skills system to the labour market
		National strategy for career guidance
		The implementation of career guidance programmes in Northern Ireland
		Better gearing the education system to the labour market
		Collaboration with firms in gearing career guidance to demand
		Online resources
	Better anticipating future skills needs of Northern Ireland
	Promoting inclusive growth in the labour market
		Focus on the low skilled or disadvantaged
		Focus on key sectors
	Employer engagement in delivering VET at the local level
		The role of employers in influencing training provision
		Facilitating the involvement of SMEs
		Understanding the role of local councils in Northern Ireland
		Flexibility of public institutions in responding to local employer needs
		Benefits of training for employers
		Apprenticeships in non-traditional fields
		Tailored / ad-hoc training courses
	Improving work organisation, job design and skills utilisation in the workplace
		High-performance workplaces and work organisation in Northern Ireland
		The role of the public sector in promoting better skills use
		Focus on better using skills within SMEs
		Local strategies to encourage better skills use in the workplace
	References