The effects of the coronavirus pandemic will be felt for years to come, particularly in the job market. Before the coronavirus pandemic gravely impacted the world’s economy, the United States was already behind many of our international competitors in providing a solid foundation of skills to young adults transitioning to work and higher learning. Strong, well-designed vocational education and training (VET) systems in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany may explain much higher rates of youth engaged in work and learning. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2019 showed each of these countries had a lower rate of youth aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training (NEET) than did the U.S. Will their strong VET systems aid those countries in overcoming the job losses of the current pandemic?
Next week, the OECD will release updated data in its Education at a Glance 2020 report, with a focus on VET. Join us September 8 for a webinar featuring NCEE CEO and President Anthony Mackay and OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher as they discuss what the U.S. can learn from the report, particularly about VET, a sector that plays a central role in ensuring the alignment between education and work and the successful transition into the labor market, and which will be key to economic recovery.
