For several decades now, countries around the globe have been grappling with the implications of the future of work. The simultaneous onset of climate change, demographic shifts, technological change - and more broadly, globalization - are transforming the world of work in ways that, in the absence of effective policy interventions, pose considerable risks to economic, societal and individual prosperity.

The confluence of these global mega-drivers has played a significant role in placing skills at the forefront of the employment and social policy landscape. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 only emphasized this transformation by accelerating ongoing shifts in the world of work. There is now widespread recognition that workforce development policies and programmes require a well-functioning and responsive LMIS with a strong focus on skills. Indeed, the growing discourse on skills is intricately linked with sustainable enterprises, productivity growth and the importance that lifelong learning must play in the context of the future of work.