Career Development Systems

Career guidance and counselling, career education and lifelong development of skills for employability are key for success in learning activities, effective career transitions, livelihood planning, entrepreneurship and in increasing labour market participation. They are instrumental in promoting skills utilization, recognition (RPL), as well as in improving enterprise human resource management.

Career development activities encompass a wide variety of support activities including career information and advice, counselling, work exposure (e.g. job shadowing, work experience periods), assessment, coaching, mentoring, professional networking, advocacy, basic and employability skills training (curricular and non-curricular) and entrepreneurship training. It is often an area which is fragmented across different ministries (e.g. education, TVET, employment, youth) requiring an effort to achieve the necessary coordination to provide adequate support to individuals during learning, employment and unemployment/inactivity periods.

ILO work in this area supports constituents in developing integrated lifelong career development support systems for learners, workers and vulnerable groups. Research and policy cooperation undertaken supports the improvement institutional arrangements, stakeholder cooperation, quality assurance systems, improvement of financing systems, staff development and the development of digital capacities in careers services. Supporting integrated career development support across education, training, employment policies and social protection.