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Forthcoming policy developments

A committee was set up in 2017 to provide an evidence-based assessment of Norway’s future skill needs. This assessment will form the basis for planning and strategic decision making of both authorities and in the labour market, regionally and nationally. The committee work until 2020 has been to assess national and international research. A total of three reports have been submitted to the Ministry of Education and Research; NOU 2018: 2, NOU 2019: 2 and NOU 2020: 2. The Committee will continue from 2021 to 2027 to provide an analysis and assessment of the future skill needs both for the short, medium, and long term.

Ongoing debates

Exclusion of youth is a major societal challenge that entails significant costs for both the individual and society. The challenge and its consequenses have been widely discussed in recent years, as there are 111 000 young people who are neither in work nor education. This represents one in five people aged 20-29.

On behalf of the Government, a cooperation between representatives from the Research Council of Norway (Forskningsrådet), DOGA (Design and Architecture Norway), the Norwegian Directorate of Education and Training (Udir), the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet), the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), the Norwegian Directorate of Labor and Welfare (AVdir), KS, the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family affairs (Bufdir) and Kulturtanken has proposed a way to organize a joint effort to include more young people in education, work and social life. The effort is referred to as the Social Mission and is proposed by the representatives to work towards the follow three goals; 

• Children and young people experience a good quality of life
• Children, young people and their families are met with high-quality services and offerings
• Working methods for inclusion are improved through research, development and innovation 

Work on the Social Mission will continue for the next 10 years.