In Putting Skills First: A Framework to Action, developed in consultation with leading experts from the public and private sectors, we delve into “skills-first”, a term used to describe a new approach to talent management that emphasizes a person’s skills and competencies – rather than degrees, job histories or job titles – with regard to attracting, hiring, developing, and redeploying talent. By focusing directly on skills, themselves, rather than on how they have been acquired, a skills-first approach has the potential to democratize access to economic opportunities and pathways to good jobs for many more people than traditional approaches have done. Our analysis of data from a geographically diverse range of 18 economies, estimates that in total, more than 100 million people in these countries could be added to the global talent pool through a skills-first approach.

Investing in a skills-first approach can help businesses and governments develop a highly skilled and inclusive workforce that has access to good jobs and a higher earning potential leading to a more innovative and prosperous economy and society overall. To unlock the benefits of a skills-first approach, the report proposes an initial framework for action areas, complemented by illustrative examples and case studies, for businesses and governments interested in leveraging a holistic skills-first approach.

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