An international study of comparator cases, skilling the bay Geelong - regional labour market profile - Attachment to final report

The Regional Geelong Area (RGA) is experiencing a significant period of transition as it undergoes a process of deindustrialisation and the deeply penetrating levels of social and economic upheaval associated with such processes. This report provides an overview of the key findings, derived from an international cross-case analysis, with a focus on the implications for the Regional Geelong Area. The critical success factors are identified - the conditions and drivers - necessary for effective skills-based transitions through an evaluation of strategies and initiatives that resulted in positive outcomes in the comparator cases. The examination of less efficacious policies and practices within the case studies also contributes to understanding of the contextual factors that either facilitate or constrain success. The researchers identified three comparable regions where there is evidence of skills transitions. The sites are: Eire (Ireland), the South Wales Valleys (UK) and Hamilton (Canada). Each case study presents evidence on the different ways in which the labour market change might be managed, and the implications for employment and skills development within a region. Success is highly specific and critically involves: i. Early retirement strategies and job transfer schemes. Some schemes encouraged workers to take on reduced hours in their current job while being retrained for a new job (rather than waiting for enforced redundancy and then entering a training program); ii. Planned multi-level state policies and practices, with coherence across a range of policy areas; iii. Successful training and education schemes, which have multi-stakeholder involvement, including education and training bodies, business, government and unions and NGOs.