Event agenda

This Year's Thematic Pillars

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The programme is structured around four thematic pillars that translate shifting trade and value chains into local action—helping places strengthen resilience, support worker transitions, and seize new opportunities. 
PILLAR I: Leveraging data-driven insights to identify risks and opportunities for local labour markets 
PILLAR II: Adapting local development strategies in an evolving global economy
PILLAR III: Facilitating upskilling and worker transitions amid changing industry needs 
PILLAR IV: Enabling local business and entrepreneurs in new markets and value chains
Discover the draft event agenda

Draft agenda

Four Pillars

Pillar 1: Leveraging data- driven insights to identify risks and opportunities for local labour markets

  • Scene setting opening 
  • Plenary 1. Local labour market leadership dialogue: Managing in a world of shocks and shifts

Pillar 2: Adapting local development strategies in an evolving global economy

  • Plenary 2. Localising or globalising: Local development amid shifting global value chains
  • Solution lab 1: Navigating shocks from layoffs to a new lease on life
  • Solution lab 2: Forging new identities amid disruption
  • Solution lab 3: Putting industrial policy in its...

Pillar 3: Facilitating upskilling and worker transitions amid evolving industry needs

  • Plenary 3. Responding to the changing map of work and opportunity 
  • Plenary 4. Skills and worker transitions in a rewired global economy 
  • Solution lab 4: Fit for purpose public employment services
  • Solution lab 5: Making cross-border labour markets...

Pillar 4: Enabling local businesses in new markets and value chains

  • Plenary 5 : Enabling local businesses to seize new opportunities
  • Site visit 1: circular economy and/or defence
  • Site visit 2: Smart services
  • Site visit 3: High tech R&D
  • Site visit 4: culture and local development


Please note that this agenda is being continuously updated with more detailed information and speakers . 
Download the high level agenda

Day 1 :

May 27, 2026
11:00 - 12:00
Lunch / PLACESLive / Local Data Walk
Registration
12:00 - 12:30
Opening
12:30 - 12:50
Scene setting - Job creation and local economic development 2026
12:50 - 13:20
Local labour market leadership dialogue: Managing in a world of shocks and shifts
13:20 - 14:00
Localising or globalising: Local development amid shifting global value chains
14:00 - 14:15
Lightning round – PLACES Live: Local initiatives in Action
14:15 - 15:00
Coffee break / PLACESLive / Local Data Walk
15:00 - 16:00
Solution Lab 2: Forging new identities amid disruption
Solution Lab 3: Putting industrial policy in its place
OECD Local Data Portal training
Solution Lab 1: Navigating Shocks: From Layoffs to a New Lease of Life

Day 2 :

May 28, 2026
06:30 - 07:00
Breakfast
07:00 - 07:45
Responding to the changing map of work and opportunity
07:45 - 08:30
Skills and worker transitions in a rewired global economy
08:30 - 08:45
Coffee break
08:45 - 10:45
Study Tours
11:45 - 12:45
Solutions Lab 4: Fit for purpose public employment services
Solutions Lab 5: Making cross-border labour markets work
Solutions Lab 6: The proximity economy: Closer to people and place
OECD Local Data Portal training
12:45 - 13:15
Coffee break / PLACESLive / Local Data Walk
Coffee break / PLACESLive / Local Data Walk
13:15 - 14:30
Enabling local businesses to seize new opportunities
14:30 - 14:45
Closing
Download the high level agenda