Skills Strategies for a Sustainable World of Work
Employer Guidance
Company Case Studies
Workforce Development
This guide demonstrates how skills development can serve as a core driver of sustainable business growth and workforce resilience.
By 2030
0%
of jobs will require digital skills
By 2030
0M
jobs may be displaced globally by automation
By 2030
<0M
workers worldwide will need to be reskilled or upskilled
Date
2021
Countries involved
Switzerland
Partners & funders
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Partner
What's in the publication
In times of extreme uncertainty and rapid digitalization, closing the gap between the supply and demand of skills and ensuring people have the right skills to be employable and perform their work well, is more challenging than ever. To help business leaders better understand how a strong skills development strategy creates business value while simultaneously generating positive value for people and society, today, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN Global) launched a guide for Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) on skills strategies for a sustainable world of work.
What you'll get
- A clear framework for integrating skills development into corporate sustainability strategies.
- Practical guidance on how companies can future‑proof their workforce in the context of rapid technological, social, and environmental change.
- Real business examples demonstrating how leading employers align skills initiatives with long‑term sustainability goals.
- Actionable recommendations for embedding reskilling, upskilling, and inclusive talent development into business operations and value chains.
Key highlights
- Global businesses cite skills gaps as one of the top barriers to sustainability, innovation, and long‑term competitiveness.
- Companies that strategically invest in upskilling and reskilling report higher retention, greater workforce adaptability, and stronger innovation capacity.
- Companies that integrate long‑term skills strategies into operations see an up to 25% increase in workforce adaptability and innovation.
- 70% of companies surveyed by WBCSD report that embedding skills into sustainability strategies improves retention and organizational resilience.
