Technical and organizational innovations in the working sphere, the development of new professions and possibilities in vocational training, the change of working life courses and labour conditions make the analyses of skill needs more and more inevitable. Useful suggestions for the early recognition of skill needs in Germany can be attained from concepts and analysis in neighbouring and competition countries. Thus the project “Qualification Needs in OECD Countries“ is concerned with the anticipation of qualification and skill needs and the implementation of results in educational and continuing training systems in an internationally comparative perspective.

Main objective of the project is to point out relevant developments in qualification needs in OECD-Countries. Based on the investigation of large economic trends of skill needs in respective countries institutional arrangements and the reaction to the observed needs, including innovative political initiatives in these countries, are compared. Identification of the Cobbweb problem in the ICT, anticipating SME skill needs, and regional skill needs are specific topics of the contribution to applied research on labour market and qualification. In addition ‘best practice’-reaction on identified skill needs on regional-, sectoral-, and occupation-specific questions about apprenticeship and further training are analysed.

The project intends to analyse links between anticipation of skill needs, the process of implementation into educational and continuing training systems and companies as “demand” of qualifications and skills. Accordingly the connection of research results and the analysis of their implementation is the second main objective of the project. Here the question is concerned, how research results are transferred in educational and occupational systems. The restraining and promoting effects of the institutional framework on the implementation process are analysed. Besides the legal framework the coordination of relevant actors is crucial for the success of the implementation process.

Institutional, methodological and structural aspects of analysis and implementation of skill requirements are explored on the theoretical basis of the concept of transitional labour markets. An international > network of experts and institutions enable quick and solid comparison of findings respect to actual topics. Moreover the project is partner in the German research network for early recognition of qualification needs ¬ "FreQueNz", which is promoted by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Basic assumption of the project is that an effective early identification and implementation concept with a broad acceptation and use needs the connection of qualitative and quantitative information within an integrated information system. Thus the research work aims at a combination of different analysis and research methods to increase the transparency on the market of qualifications.