The World Economic Forum’s 2023 white paper with PwC calls for a “skills-first” approach to talent, focusing on competencies over degrees to address global labor shortages. Over 100 million people are underutilizing their skills, while industries face rising demand in green jobs, digital roles, healthcare, and education. Skills-first hiring and development expand talent pools, increase equity, and boost productivity. The report offers a framework of enablers (skills-first culture, common skills language) and actions (skills-based hiring, lifelong learning, redeployment). Broad adoption can fuel innovation, diversity, and sustainable economic growth.

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