Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics

Across countries and regions, the lack of labor, skills gaps, and skills mismatch are recurrent problems, frequently labeled as ‘the skills problem’. In this Nordic comparative study, we show how the skills problem is framed in a cross-sectoral and multi-level governance context involving education...

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Main Authors: Anna Lundgren, Mari Wøien Meijer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Aalborg University 2025-05-01
Series:Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/156990
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author Anna Lundgren
Mari Wøien Meijer
author_facet Anna Lundgren
Mari Wøien Meijer
author_sort Anna Lundgren
collection DOAJ
description Across countries and regions, the lack of labor, skills gaps, and skills mismatch are recurrent problems, frequently labeled as ‘the skills problem’. In this Nordic comparative study, we show how the skills problem is framed in a cross-sectoral and multi-level governance context involving education policy, labor market policy and industry and business development policy, as well as actors representing different levels of government. In five Nordic case study regions, we examine how the skills problem is framed and managed in the regional context, and how the regions work with skills analysis, skills development, and skills governance. In recent years, the concept skills ecosystems has gained increased interest. The results show that all examined Nordic regions work with basic elements from this concept, indicating an emergence of regional skills ecosystems. To conclude, the authors discuss how regional skills ecosystems have the potential to contribute to solving the skills problem.
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spelling doaj-art-0cdb54407e154a32a6d6da17f86df6dc2025-08-20T02:14:28ZengAalborg UniversityNordic Journal of Working Life Studies2245-01572025-05-0110.18291/njwls.156990Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the NordicsAnna Lundgren0Mari Wøien Meijer1NordregioResearch Institutes of Sweden Across countries and regions, the lack of labor, skills gaps, and skills mismatch are recurrent problems, frequently labeled as ‘the skills problem’. In this Nordic comparative study, we show how the skills problem is framed in a cross-sectoral and multi-level governance context involving education policy, labor market policy and industry and business development policy, as well as actors representing different levels of government. In five Nordic case study regions, we examine how the skills problem is framed and managed in the regional context, and how the regions work with skills analysis, skills development, and skills governance. In recent years, the concept skills ecosystems has gained increased interest. The results show that all examined Nordic regions work with basic elements from this concept, indicating an emergence of regional skills ecosystems. To conclude, the authors discuss how regional skills ecosystems have the potential to contribute to solving the skills problem. https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/156990Learning & CompetenciesEmployment, Wages, Unemployment & RehabilitationInnovation & ProductivityLabor Market Institutions & Social PartnersOrganization & Management
spellingShingle Anna Lundgren
Mari Wøien Meijer
Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics
Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
Learning & Competencies
Employment, Wages, Unemployment & Rehabilitation
Innovation & Productivity
Labor Market Institutions & Social Partners
Organization & Management
title Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics
title_full Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics
title_fullStr Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics
title_full_unstemmed Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics
title_short Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics
title_sort skills ecosystems a solution to the skills problem experiences from the nordics
topic Learning & Competencies
Employment, Wages, Unemployment & Rehabilitation
Innovation & Productivity
Labor Market Institutions & Social Partners
Organization & Management
url https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/156990
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