Skills: How to make them future-proof?

The ETF is setting up a network of experts to help the countries neighbouring the EU anticipate and match demand and supply of skills.

Skills are crucial for the prosperity of nations and for the better lives for individuals. For workers, skills mean employability and social mobility. For societies, skills represent a major component of their productivity, competitiveness and innovation.

Mismatch between skills demand and supply contributes to high numbers of unemployed people – among them many well educated young – on one side, and skills requirements from employers which cannot be met.

In the meeting in Turin on 27 and 28 June, ten specialists from ETF partner countries, three international experts, and ETF staff will establish the network and try to develop a shared understanding of the main issues in matching supply and demand of skills.

Many ETF partner countries have trouble producing the right mix of skills for the current and future needs of labour markets. The problem is made more difficult and urgent considering a high youth unemployment, outmigration, predominance of micro and small enterprises, and underdeveloped labour market monitoring data and management systems.

At the start of the new project the ETF will measure the mismatch based on readily available data. The project will sum up and examine the current practices in ETF partner countries, share successes and failures of EU countries in this field.

The network of experts will assess and describe methods for anticipating skills demands and ways of matching demand and supply. The results will be disseminated and debated with policymakers and expert practitioners.

Learn more about the ETF’s MATCH project

etf.europa.eu
Year/Date: 2011/06/22