Foreword
The world of work is changing. New technologies, digitalisation, deepening globalisation and population ageing are having a profound impact on the type and quality of jobs that are available and the skills required to do them. To what extent individuals, firms and economies can harness the benefits of these changes critically depends on the readiness of adult learning systems to help people develop relevant skills for this changing world of work.
While Italy has made major progress in the past decade to up-skill its population and workers, further efforts are needed to improve access to good quality adult learning opportunities. Training Funds (i.e. fondi paritetici interprofessionali per la formazione continua) represent one important tool through which Italy could face the pressures brought about by the mega-trends, and equip adults and workers with the skills needed to thrive in the labour market and society. This report analyses how Training Funds are designed, used, and monitored, and provides actionable policy recommendations to ensure that they are put to their most effective use.
This report is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD, with the financial assistance of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. The views expressed in this report should not be taken to reflect the official position of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.