VET in context

The aim of the research was to identify whether, and how, the demand for the types of skills provided by the vocational education and training (VET) sector was likely to change in the years to 2011. This research has adopted a different approach to investigating future demand for skills: instead of utilising proxies for skills, such as qualification, earnings or nominal occupation, this research has adopted a framework which uses the notion of skills as comprised of cognitive, interactive and motor skills dimensions. The research projects that future jobs are likely to have higher cognitive and interactive components, this being a probable consequence of global change and the rising level of international trade, as well as skill-based technological change.