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The reason to launch a new “union” is that Europe is facing a skills crisis that threatens its competitiveness, innovation and ability to adapt to global challenges. Skills shortages and gaps are widespread: about four in five SMEs struggle to find workers with the right skills, particularly in breakthrough technologies like AI and quantum computing. Shortages will likely increase with the projected decline in the working age population from 265 million in 2022 to 258 million by 2030.
Background
The Commission has acknowledged that education systems in the EU member states were not keeping pace with technological change, with nearly half of young people lacking basic digital skills and declining performance in mathematics, reading and science.
Meanwhile, only 40 percent of adults participate in education or training, far below the 60 percent EU-wide target; almost half lack basic digital skills despite 90 percent of jobs requiring them.
Besides, the gender imbalances in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), lack of attractiveness while fragmented sectoral governance further exacerbate the issue. Thus, without urgent action, labour shortages in high-demand sectors will grow, limiting EU’s member states economic growth, global competitiveness, decarbonisation efforts and resilience in times of crisis.
The newly created “Union of Skills” is focusing on four strands to ensure everyone in the states is empowered in building solid skills foundations and engaging in lifelong upskilling and reskilling: a) building skills for quality lives and jobs through strong educational foundation; b) upskilling and reskilling the agile workforce for the digital and green transition; c) circulating skills across the EU states for competitiveness; and d) attracting, developing and retaining talent for Europe’s future.
Starting this March – and continuing over the coming years – the Commission will launch a series of actions under each of the four strands to deliver on the Union of Skills, in close collaboration with citizens, businesses and education/training providers.
The current EU budget allocates over €150 billion in funds to education and skills, including through existing programs: ESF+, RRF, ERDF, Erasmus+ and InvestEU.
Source: https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/915b147d-c5af-44bb-9820-c252d872fd31_en
The “Union of Skills”: basics
The new union will support the development of the EU’s available human capital to strengthen continental competitiveness. A key initiative of the first 100 days of this Commission, the Union of Skills are: = deliver higher levels of basic skills, for example through the Basic Skills Support Scheme pilot; = provide lifelong opportunities for adults to regularly upskill and reskill, for example through a Skills Guarantee pilot; = facilitate recruitment by businesses across the EU, for example through a Skills Portability Initiative; = attract and retain the skills and talents needed in the European economy, for example through the ‘Choose Europe’ action to attract top talent globally; and = having a strong governance foundation, building on the new European Skills High-Level Board that will be informed by a European Skills Intelligence Observatory.
Reference to: https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/union-skills_en
A new European Skills High-Level Board will bring together education and training providers, business leaders and social partners to provide comprehensive insights on skills to the EU policy makers. Building on the Observatory the Board will ensure a coordinated vision and the identification of the bold action necessary to strengthen our human capital.
Because human capital, education and skills are a core matter for ensuring European competitiveness, the Commission intends to introduce a new EU-27 Recommendation on education and skills in the European Semester cycle, to guide the Member States and relevant actors.
From children at school to those reaching retirement, this initiative will empower people across Europe with the skills they need to thrive. It will also encourage the portability of skills across the continent through the free movement of knowledge and innovation.
The Union of Skills Communication is accompanied by an Action Plan on Basic Skills and a STEM Education Strategic Plan to improve skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, promote STEM careers, attract more girls and women, as well as boosting preparedness in the face of digital and clean-tech transitions.
More information in the following Commission’s weblinks: = A Union of Skills (Communication); = Union of Skills website; = Union of Skills factsheet; = Skills development, labour and skills shortages – factsheets for all 27 Member States (Cedefop); = Action Plan on Basic Skills; = STEM Education Strategic Plan; = Action Plan on Basic Skills factsheet; and = STEM Education Strategic Plan factsheet.