The concept of employability has provided a foundation for much current labour market policy. It has also provided a useful framework for analyzing national and urban labour markets and related policies in a variety of different circumstances both for those in and out of work.

The papers in this book help progress the concept of employability, demonstrating the importance of the geographic and spatial context, and showing its flexibility and usefulness as a basis for theory, analysis and policy. The papers are divided into two main sections:

• understanding the concept of employability
• lessons for labour market policy in changing labour markets.

The chapters also provide general insights into many current labour market policy debates. As employability continues to be the foundation of many labour market policies, this volume considers the economic and geographical dimensions of employability in local labour market analysis and policy.

This book was previously published as a special issue of the journal Urban Studies.