Lao Development Report 2014 : Expanding Productive Empoloyment for Broad-Based Growth
Recent media reports of a perceived skills problem in Lao PDR have spurred an intense focus on skills development initiatives. Alarming media coverage of rising wages and complaints among firms of a shortage of skilled workers has raised concerns...
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| Format: | Economic & Sector Work |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC
2015
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/10/23910097/lao-development-report-2014 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/21555 |
| Summary: | Recent media reports of a perceived
skills problem in Lao PDR have spurred an intense focus on
skills development initiatives. Alarming media coverage of
rising wages and complaints among firms of a shortage of
skilled workers has raised concerns over whether Lao workers
are equipped with the skills sought by firms. The Government
and other partners have responded by channeling more
resources to skills development, for example with
investments in vocational training facilities to train more
workers. This report argues that the workforce problems
which Lao PDR faces do not only stem from problems in the
education sector. Looking only to skills development as a
solution would not address the fundamental problems
constraining economic growth, employment creation, and
poverty reduction. Creating an environment conducive for
farm and non-farm businesses to make investments and grow
remains an essential first step for skills development. As
World Bank (2004) states, Training does not create jobs.
Skills are a derived demand and that demand depends on
policies for growth and employment creation. |
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