Skills for Europe’s competitiveness

The goal of this seminar is to examine skills development and workplace learning as the essential framework through which the EU can reach its twin goals of increasing economic competitiveness and enhancing the quality of employment.
Cedefop will showcase its evidence focusing on what underlies low skill demands and skill formation and how these underpin low competitiveness of EU organisations. It will also present latest findings from its European Training and Learning survey (ETLS), a new survey mapping the determinants of learning and skills development in European workplaces. 
In addition, the seminar brings together policy makers, social partners, and researchers to encourage a constructive dialogue on strengthening EU competitiveness through human-centred technological innovation and job quality. 
Finally, this Brussels seminar will unveil the details of the 2026 European Skills and VET Week (ESVW), which will take place between 6 and 13 November. The ESVW aims to raise awareness about Europe’s urgent need to rethink its approach to skills and VET to remain competitive, economically strong and strategically independent. It will also address the broader Skills and VET community to share data and insights that may drive strategies for upskilling and reskilling people across different life stages. It will also allow discussing how skills and workplace learning can strengthen the connection between technological innovation and competitiveness.