Forecasting the skills needs and developing the coordination between actors : statements and comments

Finland and France share some common characteristics regarding the labour market situation and trends : a high level of unemployment (respectively 8.4% and 9.5%), a low rate of employment among the 55-65 and the 15-24 age groups (for the latter mainly due to a “full time” educational model), an ageing process with a growing level of retirements in the future (but with similar choices regarding the increasing age of retirement and level of provisions, and similar public policies regarding the decrease in early retirements), and young cohorts stable or slightly decreasing. In this context, forecasting labour demand and supply in the long run is a common concern, with the aim of producing some guidelines for labour market actors, for employment policy as well as for education and training policies. This paper will first outline some common trends and differences in the French experience regarding the forecasting tools. Then we will put the emphasis on common results and/or differences between the two countries. In the third part we will discuss the use of the forecasts' results mainly in the field of education and training policies.