The concept of 'employability' plays a crucial role in informing labour market policy in the UK, the EU and beyond. This paper analyses current and previous applications of the term and discusses its value as an exploratory concept and a framework for policy analysis. It then traces the development of the concept, discusses its role in current labour market and training strategies (with particular reference to the UK) and seeks to identify an approach to defining employability that can better inform labour market policy, by transcending explanations of employment and unemployment that focus solely on either supply-side or demand-side factors. Although the literature offers a range of definitions of 'employability', many policy-makers have recently used the term as shorthand for 'the individual's employability skills and attributes'. It is argued that this 'narrow' usage can lead to a 'hollowing out' of the concept of employability. The paper concludes by presenting a broad framework for analysing employability built around individual factors, personal circumstances and external factors, which acknowledges the importance of both supply- and demand-side factors.

Ronald W. McQuaid

Colin Lindsay

Urban Studies

Urban Studies was first published in 1964 to provide an international forum of social and economic contributions to the fields of urban and regional planning. Since then, the Journal has expanded to encompass the increasing range of disciplines and approaches that have been brought to bear on urban and regional problems. Contents include original articles, notes and comments, and a comprehensive book review section. Regular contributions are drawn from the fields of economics, planning, political science, statistics, geography, sociology, population studies and public administration.

Urban Studies was first published in 1964 to provide an international forum for social and economic contributions to the fields of urban and regional planning. Since then, the journal has expanded its scope to include a growing range of disciplines and approaches applied to urban and regional issues. The contents include original articles, notes and comments, and a comprehensive book review section. Regular contributions come from the fields of economics, planning, political science, statistics, geography, sociology, population studies, and public administration.

《Urban Studies》创刊于1964年，旨在为城市和区域规划领域提供一个国际性的社会和经济贡献论坛。自那时起，期刊的范围不断扩大，涵盖了越来越多的学科和方法，这些学科和方法被应用于城市和区域问题的研究。期刊内容包括原创文章、评论和意见，以及全面的书评部分。定期投稿的领域包括经济学、规划、政治学、统计学、地理学、社会学、人口研究和公共管理。

Category	Quartile
经济学	1
经济学, 环境研究	2
经济学, 城市研究	2

The Concept of Employability

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
URBAN STUDIES	1