BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 17. Azerbaijan’s
skills ecosystem is being strengthened by a global initiative, Head
of Operations and Skills at the World Economic Forum Alison
Eaglesham said during her speech at the opening ceremony of the
“Baku ID 2026” innovation festival, held at the SABAH. city
innovation campus, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.


She noted that the World Economic Forum’s “Global Skills
Accelerator” initiative, coordinated by 4SIM, is being implemented
in Azerbaijan:


“This initiative brings together the government, industry, and
academia to develop the skills needed for the economy of the
future.


To date, the Forum has implemented its ‘Accelerator’ initiative
in more than 35 countries around the world, and we are pleased that
Azerbaijan has joined this global community of transformation.”


Some of you may have heard about the Forum’s flagship
publication, the report “The Future of Jobs.” This report
highlights the scale and relevance of the skills development
program. By 2030, 39% of workers’ core skills are expected to
change, and nearly half of the global workforce will need to
upgrade their skills. This is no easy task.”


Skills such as analytical and creative thinking, leadership, and
resilience will remain important in the coming years," said Alison
Eaglesham.


“At the same time, these skills are complemented by rapidly
evolving technical skills. These include areas such as artificial
intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity. As technology advances,
new skills will emerge and evolve in the coming years.


The world of work of the future will require a unique
combination of technological capabilities and specific human
skills. “Economies and workforces that possess this skill set will
have greater opportunities for success in the future,” she
added.


The World Economic Forum representative emphasized that the key
issue lies not only in identifying the skills of the future but
also in creating systems that enable people to acquire these
skills.


According to her, research cited in the “Future of Jobs” forum
report shows that 63% of employers consider the shortage of skilled
workers to be one of the main obstacles to business
transformation.







“Governments, businesses, and educational institutions must work
together to ensure that people develop these skills and apply them
productively and meaningfully.


That is precisely why ‘Baku ID’ is the ideal platform for
today’s discussions. “Baku ID,” a major innovation event bringing
together entrepreneurs, investors, technology companies, government
officials, and academics, creates an ecosystem where the skills of
the future are developed, tested, and applied,” said A.
Eaglesham.


He noted that discussing the Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator as
part of Baku ID sends an important signal:


“Building an innovative economy is not just about technology,
startups, and investments. It’s also about developing the talent
and skills behind them.


That is precisely why we are bringing together ecosystem
partners here at Baku ID today. First, we will discuss what skills
the new generation of Azerbaijani companies and industries will
need, and then we will examine what structural changes are
necessary to prepare the workforce for the future.”


Alison Eaglesham stated that in order to translate this approach
into practical action, it is first necessary to clearly assess the
skills situation in the country, identify key gaps, determine what
is already working, and pinpoint where collaboration can yield the
best results.


She added that at the first meeting of the Azerbaijan Skills
Accelerator, the co-chairs began discussing these issues and the
country’s four key challenges.


“Based on these discussions, country studies and consultations
were conducted, coordinated by C4IR and supported by Mercer, a
global consulting firm that helps governments and organizations
build a workforce ready for the future.


All of this work was compiled into a detailed report on a
systemic analysis of Azerbaijan’s skills ecosystem, using the
forum’s global framework—the Skills Accelerator Guide,” she
emphasized.