Checklist: Evaluating labour market relevance for apprenticeship system

You may use the following checklist to evaluate the labour market relevance for your country’s apprenticeship system, to decide which elements could potentially be strengthened and to judge whether your system could be described as a Quality Apprenticeship system.

Labour market relevance – skills needs to skills certification Yes No
In your country:    
Is there a system for assessing and anticipating skills needs?    
If “yes”, are the social partners – employers’ associations and trade unions – formally involved in the assessment and anticipation process?    
Is there a mechanism in place to translate identified skills needs into the development of apprenticeship programmes and qualifications?    
If there is a mechanism in place, are the social partners  formally involved in the development of programmes?    
Are the social partners involved in monitoring the implementation of apprenticeships?    
Is a system for assessing the skills of apprentices in place?    
Are the social partners involved in assessing the skills of apprenticeships?    
Does successful completion of a Quality Apprenticeship lead to a nationally recognized qualification?    
Is a system for providing guidance, counselling and support services to apprentices and employers in place?    
Are tracer studies regularly conducted, and do the findings inform the reform of apprenticeship training programmes?    
Are employer satisfaction surveys regularly conducted, and do the findings inform the reform of apprenticeship training programmes?    

If you have answered “no” to any of these questions, it might be worth examining ways in which apprenticeship training in your country could be described as relevant to labour market needs. Labour market relevance is a key factor in the success and sustainability of Quality Apprenticeships.