Young worker cleaning cake molds
© @ILO

Quality apprenticeships based on a robust regulatory framework and social dialogue can contribute to lowering youth unemployment rates, reducing skills mismatch and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises. Historically, apprenticeships have been considered primarily as a means of facilitating the school-to-work transition for young people. However, in the context of a fast-changing world of work, the apprenticeship model is empowering both youth and older workers to acquire new skills, reskill and upskill throughout their working lives. 

A new Recommendation on Quality Apprenticeships was adopted during the 111th International Labour Conference. It is designed to support "opportunities for people of all ages to skill, reskill and upskill continuously" in rapidly changing labour markets.

Key features of the Recommendation:

Social dialogue

employers and workers’ organizations play a key role

Regulatory framework

well-designed regulations ensure quality

Rights and protection

apprentices are entitled to rights and protection

Equality and diversity

apprenticeships framework need to promote equality, diversity and social inclusion

News and articles

South-South Technical Workshop ‘Promoting Skills and Employment for Decent Work in Rural Development’ and Expert Workshop on Quality...
集体合影-SSTC Workshop in Huzhou

South-South Technical Workshop ‘Promoting Skills and Employment for Decent Work in Rural Development’ and Expert Workshop on Quality...

Global Skills Forum Addresses Critical Challenges and Opportunities in Skills Development
Participants at the Global Skills Forum

Global Skills Forum Addresses Critical Challenges and Opportunities in Skills Development

Key resources

Publications

Skills Matter!

Skills development

Skills Matter!

Strengthening apprenticeships for transitions to formality

Policy brief

Strengthening apprenticeships for transitions to formality

Statistical Brief - Apprentices in countries with large informal economies

ILO Brief

Statistical Brief - Apprentices in countries with large informal economies

Upgrading apprenticeship systems in the informal economy

Upgrading apprenticeship systems in the informal economy

Millions of young people in the developing world acquire skills through apprenticeships in the informal economy and in many countries, greatly outnumber youth acquiring skills through formal technical and vocational education and training. A new ILO labour standard on quality apprenticeships has focused attention on the need to upgrade training and learning to strengthen apprenticeships in the informal economy.

Multimedia

Projects

Apprenticeships Development for Universal Lifelong Learning and Training (ADULT)
Woman manipulating bricks, Mangalore, India.

Project

Apprenticeships Development for Universal Lifelong Learning and Training (ADULT)

Global Skills Programme
Ibrahim attending apprenticeship program in Konya under the Opportunities for Lives Project run by ILO Turkey Office

Global Skills Programme

Related topic

Skills and Lifelong Learning
Women following a training on computers

Skills and Lifelong Learning