A missing link: national economic aspirations and training and learning in firms

The purpose of this paper is to consider critically Government policy options in achieving growth through skills acquisition and deployment.

The approach takes the form of a review of policies drawing on literature from a number of countries.

Government has a tendency to offer macro‐solutions to a micro problem and is impotent as a result. The main hope lies in long‐term development through the education system.

The paper argues for a change in perspective from Government and a shift away from unhelpful initiatives. It calls for a long‐term investment in education.

The paper links the Government's macro‐economic policies with the micro‐ implications at the level of the firm.