Foreword and Acknowledgements

It is with great pleasure that we are publishing the first edition of Job Creation and Local Economic Development, a landmark publication for the LEED Programme. For over 30 years, the OECD Programme on Local Economic and Employment Development has worked to fulfil its mission of contributing to the creation of more and better jobs through effective policy implementation, innovative practices, stronger capacities and integrated strategies at the local level. For the first time, this publication brings together the most recent findings from LEED across the areas of employment and skills, entrepreneurship, social inclusion and local development in one place.