This presentation from Ms. Lesley Giles from Work Advance (UK) for the 12th meeting of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Policy Network on Education and Skills shows how better using skills can contribute to raise productivity in the UK. It provides examples of concrete policy initiatives and actions that can contribute to reach this objective.

1. Work Advance and Experian
March 2020
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN SHARED IN CONFIDENCE AND HAS YET
TO BE FIANLISED
BetterUseofSkills:Breakoutsession3
OECD SoutheastAsianRegionalPolicy
NetworkonEducationand Skills
30thNovember2022
LesleyGiles
DirectorWorkAdvance

2. What’s the challenge?
Source: ONS estimates 1998-2018 (2022) Source: DfE Employer Skills Survey (2020)
The UK has a persistent productivity problem, and a significant factor is due to
the quality of management practices that make better use of people’s skills
Take up of high performance working practices (UK)
Firm level productivity distribution over time (UK)

3. What’s the challenge? Whilst we are growing high skills in the UK economy, there is increasing job and
skills polarisation and skills mismatches
Spread of skills under-utilisation spatially in England
Expected future growth
Source: IER’s Working Futures estimates 2020-35 (2022) Source: DfE Employer Skills Survey (2020)

4. What needs to be done to drive better use of skills in the workplace?
Examples of policy initiatives & actions to improve HPW
Government extends resources,
support & incentives for business
Advance business-led action
Strengthen the UK legislative
platform for employment
Management training and
leadership programmes
Extend use of conditionality
procurement
Connect with Industry
employment/ Good Work
Standards & Resources
Develop employer
accreditation, kitemarking &
awards
Incentivise workplace
innovation and management
improvements
Support communities of
practice & networks in places
Strengthen support, advice
and guidance for business