Session 3: Tapping Into Hidden Talent – Leveraging the Potential of Overlooked Groups

Apr 28, 2026 | 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Rixos Tersane hotel plenary room

Description

Fostering and tapping into everyone’s talent by unlocking the potential of all groups is not only justified on equity grounds, but is essential for bolstering countries’ labour forces and economic prosperity. In many countries, certain groups have fewer opportunities to develop their talents in education. The share of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) has decreased in many countries, but still represents a significant loss of potential talent. In addition to older adults, women and migrants are often under-represented in employment – a missed opportunity to bolster working-age populations. This session would explore strategies to activate this hidden talent to fully harness the available skills base that countries have at their disposal. It would seek solutions for improving educational access and continuity for disadvantaged learners. Discussions would cover workforce accessibility for groups under-represented in employment, such as disadvantaged students, youth NEETs, women and those with migrant backgrounds. Strategies for reaching and mobilising the NEET population, including high-potential, highly qualified young people, will be of special interest. In addition, discussions could also examine how skills mobility—both internal and global—can be strategically leveraged to address labour shortages exacerbated by demographic shifts, considering mechanisms to facilitate smoother transitions between sectors, regions and countries to better match skills supply with demand and promote growth and prosperity. Discussion questions could include:
  • How can educational gaps and disadvantages be reduced, for example between boys and girls, for students with low-educated or foreign-born parents, or for other disadvantaged groups?
  • How can policy makers more effectively prevent and address youth NEET, including with the help of technology?
  • How can policy makers reduce employment gaps among older workers, women and migrants, and reduce the share of informal employment, to better harness the skills of under-utilised groups?
Format:
  • Opening presentations: Prof. Dr. Lutfihak ALPKAN, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye Mr. Frantisek RUZICKA, OECD Deputy Secretary-General
  • Plenary discussion co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Lutfihak ALPKAN, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye and Mr. Frantisek RUZICKA, OECD Deputy Secretary-General