Doha, October 29 (QNA) - The First Gulf Forum for Labor Market Skills held under the theme "From Empowerment to Leadership," recommended strengthening Gulf integration in skills development policies and preparing a unified GCC strategy in this field, as well as aligning education and training programs more closely with labor market needs.

Participants at the forum, organized by the Ministry of Labor (MOL) in partnership with the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs and University of Doha for Science and Technology, called for investment in national talent, improved mechanisms for anticipating future skills needs, and measuring the impact of skills development programs.

The recommendations included considering the establishment of a joint GCC committee for skills development to prepare a unified strategy that keeps pace with technological change and evolving workplace requirements while enhancing national talent's readiness for the skills and jobs of the future.

Participants stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships among educational and training institutions and the private sector, tailoring training programs to the actual and anticipated needs of economic sectors, investing in professional, digital, and leadership skills, promoting targeted and sustainable localization, and expanding career development opportunities for citizens in the private sector.

The recommendations also called for a greater private-sector role in identifying required skills, designing training programs, and providing learning and professional development opportunities to ensure that training outcomes meet job requirements.

They further emphasized improving mechanisms to anticipate labor market needs, using data and indicators to identify future skills requirements, and continuously evaluating and improving the effectiveness of programs and initiatives.

Participants also called for the forum to be held annually, rotating among GCC member states, to sustain dialogue, exchange expertise, and strengthen Gulf coordination in addressing shared challenges related to the future of skills and work.

MOL's Assistant Undersecretary for National Manpower Affairs in the Private Sector Khames Mohammed Al Naimi underscored the importance of continued joint GCC efforts to develop skills systems and exchange expertise and successful practices among member states, enhancing national talent's readiness for changing labor market requirements.

He stressed the need for continued coordination and complementary roles among government entities, educational and training institutions, and the private sector, and for translating visions and proposals into practical, measurable initiatives that deliver a sustainable impact on skills development and national workforce readiness.

Al Naimi also called for continued investment in people and the development of their ability to learn, adapt, and innovate in response to rapid advances in technology and digital transformation, while opening broader opportunities for GCC talent to contribute to development and shape the future. (QNA)