"The paper focuses on gender equality in relation to skills. It begins with background information on the current position of women in the labour market and on future
prospects, together with contextual and trend information on skills. Skills are understood in terms of formal qualifications, but also uncertificated competences acquired on or off the job.
The paper gives particular attention to two dimensions of the skills issue: the acquisition of skills, and their utilisation. Special emphasis is put on the utilisation issue, with original analysis of skills survey data included. This is needed to redress the over-emphasis on
the supply side in much of the policy debate. A third dimension, reward for skills, is dealt with only in passing" -- page v
