EESC Labour Market Observatory

Training, apprenticeship and new skills for new jobs

A report made by the Expert Group on New skills for new jobs published by the European Commission calls for a Europe where citizens have more and better skills. The employment rate for those with high skill levels across the EU as whole is approximately 85 %, for medium skill levels 70 % and for low skill levels it stands at 50 %.

Nearly one third of Europe population aged 25 - 64 – around 77 million people – have no, or low, formal qualifications and only one quarter have high level qualifications. Another major challenge is to ensure that people have the right skills. This is not just a question of short-term employability, but our capacity to adapt to and shape the jobs of tomorrow.

Education, training and skills are on the top agenda of the EESC Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship. The Labour Market Observatory hearing held on 31 March under the chairmanship of Xavier Verboven was focused on training, apprenticeship and new skills for new jobs. The first part of the programme was centred on training and apprenticeship schemes in business and the incentives for more investment in training.

Guest speakers were among others Eleonora Schmid, Cedefop, Mia Vanstraelen, IBM BeNeLux,  Alexandra Králíková, Škoda Auto, and Magdalena Müstermann, GmbH Müstermann, who presented their experience in the field of apprenticeship development. All interventions clearly showed the benefits for all stakeholders: for the company to innovate and remain competitive for their clients, for their communities and for individuals. Business needs to obtain a closer cooperation of schools and universities and smooth connection with students.

The second part of the hearing was on appropriate curricula and how to encourage employers and win pupils for technical professions in the light of the green economy. The invited speakers – Anders Hingel, DG EAC, and Lesley Joyce, Scottish Qualification Authority –intervened on indicators and data on education and training in the EU and at the national level.

Presentation of ŠKODA AUTO (3,24 MB)

Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs