Investing in skills for inclusive trade

“Investing in Skills for Inclusive Trade”, co-published by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Labour Office (ILO), focuses on the linkages between trade and skills and between trade and skills development policies. The publication argues that in the fast-changing context of globalization, where technology and trade relations evolve rapidly, the responsiveness of skills supply to demand is particularly important. Given the role of skills in productivity and in trade performance as well as in access to employment and in wage distribution, a strong emphasis on skills development is vital for both firms and workers. Drawing on the findings from relevant literature and from the ILO's Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification (STED) programme, this publication shows that appropriate skills development policies are key to helping firms participate in trade, and also to helping workers find good jobs.