In today’s economy, rapid changes such as the digital and green transition are creating a demand for specialised skills. But in many sectors, the demand for skills outpaces the supply of qualified professionals. This situation underscores the urgent need for accessible educational pathways – including in higher education. One promising option is the expansion of apprenticeships: giving people hands-on training, earning potential and career advancement opportunities. By taking on apprentices, businesses give themselves a sustainable method of recruiting and training employees to meet skills needs, helping them to stay competitive and foster employee loyalty and retention. At the recent joint OECD-CEDEFOP symposium ‘New fields for apprenticeship’, experts highlighted the potential of apprenticeship for different sectors of the economy and different types of learners. “Apprenticeships do work across different sectors and levels,” the Head of the OECD Centre for Skills El Iza Mohamedou told the audience. “(But) we still have to do a lot of work to further the case for apprenticeships.”
