Designing Local Skills Strategies Higher level skills are increasingly demanded by the knowledge based economy. But with rising mobility and demographic change it is no longer so simple to invest in a skilled workforce for the future. Actions are needed on a variety of fronts including attracting and retaining talent better integrating disadvantaged groups into the labour force and upgrading the skills of low paid workers. Much of the responsibility for these actions falls squarely on the shoulders of local policy makers. Drawing from a wide array of case studies this book analyses best practice local strategies for increasing workforce skills. And it also takes a close look at the opportunities and challenges presented by international migration. The in depth case studies in this report range from Shanghai’s “Highland of Talent Strategy” to new “career ladders” which help immigrants escape low skilled low paid employment in New York. National and local level recommendations on local skills development are provided for both OECD and non OECD countries.