My name is Margo Hoftijzer. I am a skills development and youth employment expert with over 20 years of experience in more than 40 countries across the world.

My work mostly focuses on making sure that education and training systems equip learners with the skills they need to access good jobs and have productive careers. Often, this implies improving Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), or increasing reskilling and upskilling opportunities of the current workforce. These days, there is also often a focus on skills for green jobs. Preparing people for the demands of the current and future workforce can also require a more holistic perspective, for example by including attention to foundational skills that are acquired from preschool, and labor market policies.

I sharpened my skills while working for various employers, most recently as Senior Economist for the Word Bank where, until 2018, I led projects of up to USD 350 million in size, and (co-)wrote numerous studies and blogs. In 2018, I started Skillworks to share my knowledge, ideas, and enthusiasm with as many interested parties as possible. Since then, I have been successfully supporting governments and other stakeholders through a host of assignments with, among others, the International Labor Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, bilateral donors and private training providers.

Beyond my focus on skills, I regularly conduct evaluations of development programs targeting the social sectors, employment creation, and economic growth and poverty reduction.

You can review my more elaborate profile at Linkedin