![]() For the future good of the Northern Ireland economy we need to better anticipate change, build resilience and develop a broader set of skills and proficiency. We need to reinvent the way people learn and interact with each-other to get the best out of new technologies and innovative ways of working, so more businesses are productive, and more people can progress and prosper to drive inclusive growth. We are bombarded with articles and events on how to survive in the age of automation, the future of work, the rise of the robot and AI along with the skills pipeline. “Skills empower economies, business and people to thrive in our increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world” (OECD Skills Strategy 2019 – Skills to Shape a Better Future). This is undoubtedly true, the question arises then, how as leaders do we take the right approach? How do we develop the right skills and how do we us these skills fully and effectively? Skills matter for individual wellbeing and national prosperity, as we have seen from recent events the need to have skills flexibility in our economy is growing rapidly. Our education and training systems are based on a linear process leading to a career. This is now proving unable to support the pace of disruptive technology, the changing face of manufacturing and the very definition of work itself. When we look at key megatrends the challenge is clear:
Investment in skills and developing the relevant ones over the life course is now a significant challenge for policy makers, business and individuals. The focus of improving educational outcomes has led to a loss of focus on developing wider skills needed for a very fluid and flexible labour market able to address these significant megatrends. In Northern Ireland there is rightly a focus on increasing R&D investment. Certain sectors are now finding that having done this that tertiary along with vocational education and training is struggling to tailor its offering (primarily by being starved of resource). This is leading to innovation strategies being curtailed or failing to have impact. Developing skills over the life course of all in work, rather than reskilling after loss of work is now a key challenge to business in Northern Ireland. The development of social partnership, investment in our management and leadership skills (our IoD NI Academy programme addresses this fully) coupled with investment in our FE Colleges and Universities can enable this. It will be essential that business takes the lead in supporting this change, fully engaging in every opportunity to reform and being the first mover where possible. Graphics credit - OECD Skills Strategy 2019: Skills to Shape a Better Future
1 Comment
5/7/2025 10:37:09 pm
I agree that investing in education, training, and the development of relevant skills across all generations will be crucial for economic success.
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AuthorMark Huddleston is MD, Non-Exec, Skills, Employability & Productivity Advocate. Providing support to regional / local government and SME's Archives
June 2025
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