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The Belgian i-COMP project focused on the extent to which the competence concept is integrated into daily practices of 31 European public employment services (PES) and 35 vocational education and training organisations (VET). The i-COMP project (funded by ESF) was run by the VDAB (Flemish Employment and Vocational Training Service) in partnership with SERV (Social Economic Council of Flanders).The results were presented at the i-COMP exchange event held in Leuven in September 2012.
A decline in attractiveness of secondary IVET studies and dissatisfaction of employers with graduate supply has led to a radical, yet disputed intervention by the government. Stricter rules for secondary school admission were approved by the parliament by an amendment to the Act on VET. A grade point average in grade 8 and the first half of grade 9 of lower secondary school was introduced as a regulating indicator valid from the 2014/15 school year.
In September 2012, the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic increased to 8.4% (almost half a million persons). Nevertheless, many employers find it difficult to recruit skilled workers. Currently, internships are what companies most frequently expect to find in CVs of fresh graduates. A new project ‘Internships in companies – Education through practice’ offers a chance to meet this requirement.
Lagging skill demand increases risks of skill mismatch.
Cedefop’s latest skill forecast shows that the European Union can expect a net increase in employment of 8 million new jobs between 2010 and 2020. Nearly ten times more job opportunities (around 75 million) will be generated to replace workers who leave the labour market. But skill mismatches and, in some sectors, skill shortages create risks for the EU labour market and the competitiveness of the European economy.
Understanding the dynamics of skill mismatch is a crucial component of Cedefop’s work on skills in the European labour market.
The main findings of Cedefop’s latest skill demand and supply forecast for the European Union (1) (EU) for 2010-20 (Box 1), indicate that although further economic troubles will affect the projected number of job opportunities, the major trends, including a shift to more skill-intensive jobs and more jobs in services, will continue.
Find results of the skills forecast by occupation, qualification, age and gender: just click on the link or the skills forecast banner on the right. On each page you can also search for data by country.
Cedefop has announced the results of its latest forecast on the demand and supply for skills. The event took place on 22 March at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels.