This issues paper is a summary of some of the important trends worldwide in the organisation of work and how some international economic developments have affected the position of workers. The author examines some of the issues these trends raise for education and training and argues for government intervention in vocational education and training on economic and equity groups.
This report has investigated the impact of the increased trend towards casualisation and outsourcing of work on learning arrangements. It found that there has been an increase in highly task-specific or job-specific training. Moreover, labour hire companies tend to spend less on the training of their employees because they prefer to recruit people who already have the skills needed. This means that non-standard workers are largely responsible for accessing, organising and funding their own training.
The education of the population and the skilling of the workforce are the factors which are going to determine a nation's fortunes in the 21st century much more than they have in the 20th century. The skills base of a nation and the speed with which skilling can adjust to meet new requirements will be as important, if not more important in determining economic success than a nation's natural resources and financial capital base. These changes will not be achieved without further significant reform to our education and training system. This report discusses these issues and the direction for the future.