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This Cedefop’s initiative explored the potential of employers’ survey as a tool to identify skill needs and skill gaps at workplace level. The aim was to develop a tool or instrument to reliably identify future needs of skills, competences, occupations and qualifications in public and private enterprises in Europe as input for broader skill needs analyses.
The dynamics of change in the workplace implies that timely and reliable information is needed on how skill needs develop. Information on future skill and competence needs in Europe is essential for employers and also effective labour market policy making at national and European levels. Such information should ideally be obtained by different methods and sources. Employers’ surveys are one of the possible – more qualitative – sources of information.
The main objective of this Cedefop initiative was to explore the potential of employers’ surveys as a tool to identify skill needs and skill gaps at workplace level and eventually, to develop a survey tool or instrument to reliably identify future needs of skills, competences, occupations and qualifications in public and private enterprises in Europe as input for broader skill needs analyses. Pilot fieldwork was completed in April 2012. A project report with recommendations on possibilities to expand the study into a full-scale survey was delivered to the European Commission in 2013. A detailed report on the piloted survey instrument is available upon request for possible use by other organizations.
Publications
- User guide to developing an employer survey on skill needs (2013)
- Piloting a European employer survey on skill needs Illustrative findings (2013)
Related expert workshops
- February 2014, Thesslaoniki - Employer survey instrument and sampling design
- May 2012, Brussels - Focus group to review the first results
- October 2011, Bratislava – Outcomes of pre-tests and effects on the pilot survey
- November 2010, Thessaloniki – Measurement concept, outline questionnaire and statistical methodology
- April 2010, Prague – Specification of required survey outcomes and related measurement aspects
- May 2009, Milan – Employers’ surveys on skill needs: feasibility work
- May 2008, Paris – Employers’ surveys as a tool for identification of skill needs
- June 2007, Bucharest – Mapping existing surveys at national and EU levels looking at their potential for skill needs analysis
Special workshops
- June 2009, Thessaloniki – Special workshop on employers’ surveys in the framework of the Agora conference ‘Matching skills and jobs: anticipating needs in challenging times’
- February 2008, Thessaloniki – Special workshop on employers’ surveys in the framework of the Agora conference ‘Future skills for Europe’
Related reading
- Employers’ surveys as a tool for identification of skill needs – Draft conceptual outline (2008)
- Employers’ surveys as a tool for identification of skill needs: core questions – Compilation of input from Member States (2008)
- Enterprise surveys as a tool for identification of skill needs – Compilation of 2007 information input from Member States (2008 update)
Contact Details: Skills Analysis Team