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Cedefop Newsletter

April
2016
ISSN number
1831-5259
Focus on skills
James CallejaCedefop Director
Dear subscribers,

As part of our regular newsletter provision, we will be offering you periodically an overview of Cedefop’s work in a particular area. This first edition focuses on skills. It aims at highlighting Cedefop outputs that can spearhead revision or updating of national and local policies or implementation of new ones.

Commissioner Thyssen’s visit to Cedefop on 22 April reinforced our agency’s role in supporting the new Skills agenda implementation. Effective communication with our stakeholders is essential in sharing information and knowledge that could have a positive impact on developments in VET, qualifications, and skill needs and anticipation.

The European skills and jobs survey insights and outcomes from Cedefop events can serve in rethinking education and training programmes, so that learning meets the needs of the individual and the economy better. Skills are high on the European political agenda because the number of citizens lacking basic skills to support their lives is unacceptably high. Cedefop will continue working assiduously to reduce skill mismatch and promote employability and competitiveness.

I hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Better matching of skills with jobs
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#ESJsurvey insights - Skills development in organisations offering varied learning opportunities

Skills formation plays a key role in the European growth strategy. Skills, however, take time to develop. They require workplaces affording learning opportunities and workers readily capitalising on those available.

In the fourth in a series of articles on insights from the European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey, Cedefop expert Giovanni Russo looks at how skills development performs in organisations offering varied learning opportunities and long-term perspectives.

He notes that ‘workers bring to the job knowledge, skills and competence and their personal attitudes to learning. When workers are placed in a stable organisational environment with challenging jobs and opportunities to learn, skills will develop.’

Cedefop’s ESJ survey was carried out in 2014 in all 28 EU Member States, collecting information on the match of the skills of about 49 000 EU workers.

Read the whole article.

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#ESJsurvey insights - Mitigating overqualification in the EU

Cedefop research shows that 29% of the European Union adult population suffers from qualification mismatches, mostly as overqualification.

In the second in a series of articles on insights from the European Skills and Jobs (ESJ) survey, Cedefop expert Konstantinos Pouliakas looks at ways of mitigating overqualification.

He notes that 'about a quarter of tertiary education graduates work in jobs below their qualification level; this is a waste of public resources and a taint on the value of further education.'

Cedefop’s ESJ survey was carried out in 2014 in all 28 EU Member States, collecting information on the match of the skills of about 49 000 EU workers.

Read the article here.

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Skills, qualifications and jobs in the EU: the making of a perfect match?

What has been the impact of the economic crisis on skill mismatch? Is there a cost in getting the unemployed quickly into any job? Why is skill mismatch prevalent among the EU workforce? To answer these and other timely questions on skill mismatch, Cedefop carried out the European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey.

The findings caution that the prolonged economic downturn is threatening the long-term potential of the EU’s human resources. A greater share of recent job finders has entered into jobs that need lower qualifications and skills than their own. The unemployed also run a greater risk of misplacement into jobs of lower skill intensity. More than one in five EU employees has not developed skills since they started a job, as over one third of EU jobs are characterised by poor task complexity and lack of continued learning. Closer stakeholder collaboration and policy action is needed in the EU to generate not only more skills but also, crucially, better jobs for better-matched skills.

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Skill shortages and gaps in European enterprises
The global crisis has increased unemployment in the EU to unprecedented levels, yet many employers claim they have difficulties finding skilled workers to fill their vacancies. This report shows that most vacancy bottlenecks arise because of factors other than general skill deficits, including job offers of poor quality.

The global crisis has increased unemployment in the EU to unprecedented levels, yet many employers claim they have difficulties finding skilled workers to fill their vacancies. This report shows that most vacancy bottlenecks arise because of factors other than general skill deficits, including job offers of poor quality.

Genuine skill shortages affect a small group of dynamic, internationally oriented European enterprises in specific economic sectors (health and social care, ICT, advanced manufacturing).

To mitigate skill bottlenecks, European companies must commit to offering high-quality apprenticeship places and good-quality jobs, which can be supported as part of a process of social dialogue between VET providers and labour market actors. Ultimately, the business and product market strategies of a greater share of European firms will have to become reliant on higher skill needs. The role of VET in developing creativity and entrepreneurial capacity in the European workforce will be crucial.

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Tackling unemployment while addressing skill mismatch

This study reviews recent policies and practices aiming to tackle unemployment through addressing skill mismatch in the EU-28 Member States. It examines skill mismatch policy instruments aimed at reducing unemployment as well as measures to prevent it.

While much research and analysis on mismatch exists elsewhere, it is the first comprehensive study that maps actual skill mismatch policies and practices in the EU. In-depth case studies help identify promising features of policy practices and contribute to better understanding of impact. The lessons support policy learning and can help Member States shape policies with a stronger focus on matching and pave the way for policy agendas that put skill matching centre stage.

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Maximising skills for jobs and jobs for skills: the power of partnerships

Highlights from Cedefop's conference on maximising skills for jobs and jobs for skills, 7 and 8 December 2015, Thessaloniki

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Cedefop European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey: people tell their stories

The European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey, the first European survey on skill mismatch, examines drivers of skill development and mismatch in relation to the changing complexity of people’s jobs.

The main findings of the European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey are available here.

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Interview with Harvard University Professor Richard Freeman on robots and the future of work

Ownership of machines is key for them to be used for everyone's benefit, argues Professor Freeman.

Skills intelligence for all
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Matching skills and jobs
Skills Panorama introduces a new section on ‘Matching skills and jobs’
Cedefop’s Skills Panorama team has introduced a new section on ‘Matching skills and jobs’, offering a series of indicators on skills and labour market mismatches, including the key indicators from Cedefop’s European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey.

Cedefop’s Skills Panorama team has introduced a new section on ‘Matching skills and jobs’, offering a series of indicators on skills and labour market mismatches, including the key indicators from Cedefop’s European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey.

The new indicators allow the user to gauge issues around skill mismatches such as under-skilling, under-utilisation of skills or skills obsolescence among employees in the European Union. Other indicators explore labour market imbalances such as the long-term unemployment rate and the number of young people not in employment, education or training.

The ‘Matching skills and jobs’ section provides new evidence on matters such as:

  • Under-skilling which occurs when workers’ skills may be below the level needed because the skill needs of their jobs may change over time, due to new technologies, production methods and forms of work. Individuals are more likely to be under-skilled in industries and occupations with high and fast-paced skill needs (e.g. professional and scientific services, advanced manufacturing). Under-skilled workers are more concerned that they will lose their job in the near future (they have higher job insecurity). They require higher levels of continuing vocational training to upgrade their skills and remain productive in their jobs.
  • Under-utilisation of skills which is a matter of concern for public policy and enterprises as over-skilled individuals are more likely to be dissatisfied and have lower productivity in their jobs. Individuals who occupy jobs that do not fully utilise their skills are also less likely to experience continued skill development.
  • Skills obsolescence which is a consequence of industrial restructuring or of changing skill needs in technologically intensive sectors and occupations (e.g. ICT, finance, professional and scientific activities), which may render worker’s skills outdated over time. It can also arise as the physical and cognitive skills and abilities of adults deteriorate with age due to atrophy or wear and tear. To prevent skills obsolescence, commitment by individuals and employers to continuous adult learning is required.

Visit the new section of the Skills Panorama ‘Matching skills and jobs’ to find out more about skill mismatches in Europe. For more information contact: skills-panorama [at] cedefop.europa.eu

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